Relations between Chinese car manufacturer BYD and former Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán have come under renewed scrutiny after one of Orbán’s closest allies joined the auto company. The surprise move was immediately questioned by Hungary's new prime minister, Péter Magyar, who suggested voters might now see “whose interests” Orbán served.
Szijjártó Leaves Politics for BYD
Péter Szijjártó announced he was quitting Hungarian politics to join BYD in an “external affairs” or public relations capacity. The move ends his 24-year parliamentary career, having entered the national assembly in 2002. He became Orbán’s personal spokesman in 2010 and served as foreign minister from 2012.
Announcing the move on Facebook, Szijjártó wrote: “BYD represents one of the greatest automotive success stories of the past twenty years and is the world’s leading manufacturer of new energy vehicles. As of today, I am continuing my work as the executive responsible for the group’s external relations and the development of new business lines.”
Political Fallout and Questions of Interest
Magyar, also on Facebook, responded: “It may become obvious to Fidesz voters in retrospect whose interests the former foreign minister of the failed Orbán government represented in connection with the trillion-dollar battery and automotive industry investments.”
Earlier this year, before his landslide victory in the Hungarian general election, Magyar threatened to publish details of Orbán’s contacts with BYD.
Allegations of Labour Violations
Szijjártó’s move comes just months after allegations of potential violations of European labour laws were levelled against BYD’s new plant in Szeged, its first in Europe. An NGO that interviewed Chinese migrant workers there reported accusations of seven-day work weeks and “debt bondage,” raising concerns about worker abuse at the facility.
Szijjártó’s Controversial Past
Earlier this year, Ukraine called for an investigation into Szijjártó’s relationship with Moscow after secret recordings emerged of calls with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, in which Szijjártó said he was “always at your disposal.” Ukraine subsequently branded Hungary “a disgrace” over the leaked conversations.
