Viktor Orban is giving up his seat in parliament and may leave for the United States, German-language publications write. And the oligarchs around Orban are transferring billions to Dubai, Uruguay, the United States and other distant countries, claims Peter Magyar.
When the new Hungarian parliament convenes for its inaugural session in two weeks, a political era will end in Hungary: for the first time in 36 years, Viktor Orban will not be a member of this body. On Saturday evening, after a meeting of the leadership of his "Fidesz" party, the outgoing prime minister announced in a video address that he is giving up his mandate, writes the Swiss "Neue Zürcher Zeitung" (NCC).
Orban has been a member of the Hungarian parliament without interruption since the first free elections in 1990 until today - including during his long term as prime minister. In Hungary, it is permissible and customary for ministers to simultaneously retain their parliamentary mandates, the publication explains.
However, Orban wants to remain at the head of "Fidesz", of which he is a co-founder. A party congress will make a decision on this issue in June, the publication also makes clear.
In recent months, Orban has repeatedly recalled how he suffered a painful defeat in the elections in 2002, was in opposition, and later returned to power. However, at that time he was 39 years old and had only one - relatively successful - term behind him, the NCC recalls. In the last election campaign against his almost 20-year-younger rival, Peter Magyar, however, Orbán's age was already showing. Added to this are the numerous accusations of corruption against his entourage over the past 16 years in power. And this makes his return much more difficult, the NCC emphasizes.
According to a survey published a few days ago by the "Median" institute, support for "Fidesz" continues to fall after the elections and is now only 25 percent. At the moment, this may not matter, but it shows that the majority of Hungarians definitely approve of decisive steps to reverse illiberal reforms.
Orbán going to the United States? His daughter is already there.
So far, Orbán has not explained how he intends to lead the party outside of parliament. According to investigative journalist Szabolcs Pany, who exposed the government's ties to Russia during the election campaign, the outgoing prime minister may first go to the United States, the NCC further writes. As a big football fan, Orbán wanted to attend various World Cup matches this summer, but he could have stayed longer, Pany writes, citing sources close to the government.
Last summer, Orbán's eldest daughter, Rahel, moved with her family to New York, where she began studying. However, Orbán's critics claimed even then that she was withdrawing in case her father lost the election. Rahel's husband, Istvan Tiborcs, has become one of the richest Hungarians in recent years with his financial investment company - mainly thanks to orders from the state sector and companies close to the state. There are suspicions that the family now wants to put its wealth in a safe place, the Swiss publication points out.
It also recalls that the winner of the elections, Peter Magyar, called Orban a "mafia boss" who is not ready to take responsibility. Magyar has ordered an investigation into the corruption of recent years and intends to create a new office for this purpose. Various oligarchs from Orban's entourage have either already fled abroad or are preparing their escape, Magyar wrote on his social media. He called on the national tax office to block "stolen funds", the "Neue Zürcher Zeitung" also points out.
Will Orban go to the United States, the German "Tagesspiegel" also asks. The publication also quotes Hungarian journalist Pani, who suggests that Orban is doing this to avoid possible criminal prosecution in Hungary.
Is Lorinz Meszáros planning an escape to Dubai?
The German public media outlet ARD also touches on the topic, citing the concerns of possible future prime minister Peter Magyar that people from Orban's entourage are already planning their escape - along with the stolen wealth.
The circle of oligarchs around Viktor Orban is transferring billions to the United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, the United States and other distant countries. I have information that the Hungarian tax and customs office has stopped large transfers from the entourage of Antal Rogan, Orbán's chief of staff, due to suspicions of money laundering, Magyar was quoted by ARD as saying.
According to his information, the family of Lorinz Meszáros, Orbán's former schoolmate from his home village who went from gas and heating installer to billionaire, appears to be planning to flee to Dubai. However, Magyar did not reveal where this information came from, ARD specified.