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Shkruar nga Pamfleti
An analysis published by the Financial Times highlights the concentration of public contracts in Hungary among a limited group of businessmen with close ties to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
According to the report, 13 individuals linked to the government have secured over 28 billion euros from state tenders during the period 2010–2025. This represents a significant increase compared to the period before 2010, when the same actors benefited on average around 608 million euros per year.
In general terms, these companies have benefited from around 14% of total public tender funds in Hungary, while before 2010 their share was around 1%.
The report identifies Lőrinc Mészáros, an early friend of Orbán, as a central figure, who has become one of the richest people in the country through public contracts. The network also includes László Szíjj, owner of the Duna Aszfalt company, which has won major infrastructure projects.
István Tiborcz, the prime minister's son-in-law, who has built up a considerable business portfolio, is also mentioned. Other names such as István Garancsi and Gyula Balásy are described as part of this group with strong ties to power.
According to the Financial Times, politically connected companies have had an advantage in tendering procedures. In the period 2024–2025, about 69% of their contracts were awarded in processes where only one bidder participated.
The government's economic model, known as the "National Entente System" (NER), aims to coordinate interests between the state and the private sector. However, this model has been criticized by independent experts. Economist István János Tóth of the Center for Corruption Research in Budapest describes it as a system where public funds are concentrated in a narrow circle of actors.
The developments have also attracted the attention of the European Union, which in 2022 decided to suspend around 27 billion euros in funds for Hungary due to concerns over transparency and tendering procedures.
On the other hand, the Hungarian government and Prime Minister Orbán have rejected the corruption allegations. The Duna Aszfalt company has stated that its success is based on experience and quality, while István Tiborcz has emphasized that it has not been involved in public tenders since 2015.
Orban, vucic dhe rama jane pothuajse identik