Hungary files complaint over Orban social media spending

Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar's office filed a criminal complaint Tuesday over millions of euros in public funds spent on social media communications under former prime minister Viktor Orban.

Magyar's office said the complaint was filed on suspicion of mismanagement of public funds and abuse of office after a review of contracts under the former government.

The government said Orban's office signed a contract in 2022 with Triton Communications, a company owned by Fanny Kaminski, who acted as the nationalist former leader's press adviser. It said the company was tasked with producing photos, videos and social media monitoring reports and received 4.23 billion forints, about 11 million euros, over 44 months.

The government said the contract was increased four times without substantial changes to the services requested, and that the services were billed at least three times above international market prices.

Kaminski denied the allegations in a Facebook post, saying Triton Communications “completed all the tasks under the contract” and could account for the work item by item.

Magyar won April elections on promises of “system change” and has launched several initiatives to scrutinise state management under Orban, whom he has accused of graft. Transparency International ranks Hungary as the EU's most corrupt country in its corruption perception index.