The allegations came as the euphoria surrounding Péter Magyar's spring election victory fades
BUDAPEST – Hungary’s new pro-EU government slashed spending on its flagship national holiday but allegations of a pre-arranged procurement process have revived comparisons with the Viktor Orbán era.
Ákos Hadházy – a former independent MP and corruption investigator who helped expose property deals under the previous Fidesz government– warned this week that the new pro-EU government’s conduct was beginning to resemble “the reflexes of the Orbán regime.”
The row also comes as Magyar, the prime minister’s post-election honeymoon ends, with support for his Tisza party and the prime minister slipping in recent polls.
At the centre of the dispute is the state fireworks show on Hungary’s national day. The government spent 4 billion forints (€10 million), down from the 17.5 billion forints (€48 million) earmarked by Fidesz, but an investigation by G7, part of the Telex news website, a Euractiv partner, suggests the selection process may have been little more than a formality.
