Hungary ex-foreign minister joins BYD, ethics debate

Hungary's former foreign minister, Péter Szijjártó, resigned from parliament on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, and accepted a senior executive position with Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD, a move that has ignited a fierce debate over conflicts of interest and the revolving door between government and business. Szijjártó, who served as the nation's top diplomat for nearly 12 years under former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, announced his new role on social media, stating he had received a "highly prestigious offer" to become the executive responsible for the group's external relations and new business development.

The appointment drew immediate criticism from Prime Minister Péter Magyar, whose pro-European Tisza party won a landslide election in April, ending Orbán's long tenure. Magyar accused Szijjártó on social media of having long represented foreign interests, noting the former minister had previously lobbied to secure substantial Hungarian state subsidies for BYD. Szijjártó has not publicly responded to these latest allegations.

The controversy stems from Szijjártó's direct involvement, while in office, in securing major investments from BYD. In 2023, he announced that BYD...