BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) 鈥� Hungary鈥檚 former foreign minister resigned from his parliamentary seat on Wednesday to join Chinese automaker BYD, prompting criticism over his role in facilitating substantial government subsidies to the company while in office.
P茅ter Szijj谩rt贸 was Hungary鈥檚 top diplomat for nearly 12 years in the government of former populist Prime Minister Viktor Orb谩n. He was relieved from his post after won a landslide election in April, but remained a member of parliament.
Magyar accused him on social media of representing 鈥渇oreign interests.鈥�
Szijj谩rt贸 announces he has received a prominent offer
The former lawmaker wrote on Facebook that he had received 鈥渁 highly prestigious offer鈥� from 鈥渢o fill an international position.鈥�
鈥淏YD is one of the greatest success stories in the automotive industry over the past 20 years,鈥� Szijj谩rt贸 wrote. 鈥淪tarting today, I will continue my work as the executive responsible for the group鈥檚 external relations and the development of new business lines.鈥�
Szijj谩rt贸, who had been an MP since 2002, had missed most parliamentary votes since the April election and rarely appeared in public or posted on social media.
The former diplomat helped BYD secure major subsidies
While serving in government, Szijj谩rt贸 was instrumental in securing foreign investments in Hungary from Chinese companies, including his now-employer BYD, which received considerable state subsidies during his tenure.
In 2023, Szijj谩rt贸 announced that BYD would in Hungary 鈥� allowing the conglomerate to skirt European Union import tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles imposed to protect the continent’s domestic auto manufacturing sector.
Szijj谩rt贸 played a central role in talks with BYD on bringing the plant to Hungary and said at the time that the decision came after 224 rounds of negotiations between the company and Hungary鈥檚 government.
He called the project 鈥渙ne of the largest investments in Hungarian economic history,鈥� saying the government would provide financial incentives to BYD for building the plant, which have not been disclosed.
In 2025, Szijj谩rt贸 also announced BYD would locate its European headquarters and a research and development center in Budapest and receive 20 billion forints ($63.7 million) in government assistance.
While in office, Szijj谩rt贸 and Orb谩n opposed EU tariffs on Chinese products, sought major investment from Beijing and opened a across the country. Orb谩n’s government and Beijing also jointly developed a rail corridor between Hungary and Serbia that is part of China鈥檚 .
Magyar lambasts Szijj谩rt贸’s role in BYD subsidies
Prime Minister P茅ter Magyar wrote on social media Wednesday that Szijj谩rt贸 had 鈥渓ong represented foreign interests鈥� and pointed out that he had 鈥減reviously lobbied to secure massive Hungarian state subsidies鈥� for BYD.
鈥淚n hindsight, it may now become clear even to Fidesz voters whose interests the former foreign minister of the failed Orb谩n government represented in connection with the … investments in the battery and automotive industries,鈥� Magyar wrote.
Controversy surrounded Szijj谩rt贸’s time in office
While foreign minister, Szijj谩rt贸 maintained close relations with Russia despite its on Feb. 24, 2022. Breaking with nearly all of his EU counterparts, he to negotiate agreements on purchasing Russian oil and gas and to meet with Russian , whom he referred to as his 鈥渇riend.鈥�
Szijj谩rt贸 was awarded the Russian Order of Friendship in 2021 by President Vladimir Putin, one of the highest state honors a foreign citizen can receive.
He was during Hungary’s 2026 election campaign when the Washington Post reported that he made regular phone calls to Lavrov during high-level EU meetings with 鈥渓ive reports on what鈥檚 been discussed.鈥�
Szijj谩rt贸 dismissed the report while acknowledging that he conferred with Lavrov before and after EU foreign minister meetings about their agenda and decisions.
In March, Orb谩n’s government against a prominent Hungarian investigative journalist for activities he engaged in while investigating Szijj谩rt贸’s communications with Lavrov. Those charges were dropped after Hungary’s new government took office.
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
