Hungary's ex-Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó hired by Chinese BYD: 'An extremely honorable offer'

Former Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced his resignation from the Hungarian Parliament, where he served as a member for the ruling Fidesz party. He is set to assume a leadership position at the Chinese automotive manufacturer BYD.

Szijjártó stated on Facebook that he received an "extremely honorable" offer from a leading global company, which prompted his decision to leave parliamentary activities. His new role will focus on international relations and developing new business lines within BYD, according to the MTI agency. He described BYD as a major success story in the automotive industry over the past two decades and a global leader in new energy vehicle production.

BYD Auto Hungary clarified that Szijjártó's position will have an international scope and he will not be part of the Hungarian subsidiary's management. This move has reignited discussions in Hungary about the "revolving door" phenomenon, where individuals transition between public office and high-level positions in the private sector.

Critics view Szijjártó's move as a classic example of rapid transition from politics to business, especially since he played a significant role as minister in attracting and supporting BYD's investments in Hungary. Opposition parties have questioned the links between his government activities and his new private sector role. Conversely, representatives of the former ruling party have framed his recruitment as a testament to his international prestige. The Hungarian publication Index.hu noted that while several international companies sought to recruit him after he left government, he chose the Chinese group's offer.

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an extremely honorable offer