Analysis
Economy & Tech
Trump, Orbán and the Grey Economic Security Rhino
21 January 2025
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has begun building a parallel power structure, the operation of which depends on people loyal to him. But would it allow the Hungarian prime minister to exercise control over the state and society from the opposition?
Private foundations have become the main venue of capturing an unprecedented amount of public money in Hungary on 27 April. Several public assets, ranging from state companies’ stakes through worthy properties like castles, theatres, resorts and parks to higher education institutions, became the property of private foundations.
The total value of appropriated wealth is estimated at 2.75 billion euros – still far from the full amount – but already included assets of the higher education institutions.
While the Orbán government claims that the universities would benefit from the new model, it aimed at extending its ideological influence. The prime minister made it clear that members of the supervisory boards of the public foundations were selected on the basis of their ideological commitment.