Jobbik: Saudi Businessman Poses ‘National Security Risk’

  • 8 Jun 2016 9:00 AM
Jobbik: Saudi Businessman Poses ‘National Security Risk’
The activities of a Saudi businessman in Hungary, including alleged business deals with the family of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and prominent members of the ruling Fidesz party, raise corruption and national security risks, radical nationalist Jobbik said, citing press reports concerning graft allegations surrounding Turkish, Jordanian and Saudi businessmen.

Jobbik MP Márton Gyöngyösi said that all three businessmen had ties to the Hungarian national trading house and development projects connected with protected buildings, as well as with Orbán’s entrepreneur son-in-law.

The company of Saudi businessman Ghaith Pharaon, who is associated with financing terrorism and is on an FBI wanted list, has bought the former headquarters in Budapest of Postabank from a company in which Orbán’s son-in-law, István Tiborcz, holds a stake.

“Viktor Orbán’s family and his ministers are making business deals with terrorists,” Gyöngyösi said. It is suspected that a luxury hotel will be built at the site, he said.

This is supported by the fact that an underground garage for 525 vehicles is being built there and the city council has cancelled a contract for the operation of a homeless shelter near the site. Meanwhile, the square will be revamped with expensive paving, he said.

A series of criminal acts are suspected in connection with the case which makes “Viktor Orbán open to blackmail” so this poses a risk to national security, Gyöngyösi said.

Republished with permission of Hungary Matters, MTI’s daily newsletter.

MTI photo: Soós Lajos

  • How does this content make you feel?