Hungary probes Szijjártó over multi-billion forint ventilator purchases

The investigation centers on the rapid procurement of medical supplies during March and April 2020, a period when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade operated under emergency exemptions. Records indicate the ministry purchased 16,853 ventilators for approximately 300 billion forints—roughly €845 million at the time. Current internal audits suggest these acquisitions were marred by irregularities regarding unit pricing, the sheer volume of equipment ordered, and the actual clinical utility of the devices.

Anita Orbán’s filing with the prosecutor general’s office explicitly highlights suspicions of misappropriation and significant financial damage. The move marks a definitive challenge for the Tisza government as it pivots toward its anti-corruption mandate, placing the former senior leadership of the ministry under direct legal scrutiny for their pandemic spending decisions.