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28th April, 2026
Ruszin-Szendi outraged by Ft 3bn PR contract
Incoming defence minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi sharply criticised a last-minute publicity contract awarded to companies linked to Gyula Balásy, and warned officials not to release the funds.
The contract, worth over Ft 3 billion, was signed with Balásy’s firms, including New Land Media and Lounge Design – regular winners of lucrative single-bid government contracts in recent years – to produce promotional content for the armed forces.
Ruszin-Szendi argued that such spending is unjustified, calling it “plundering” rather than legitimate communication.
“Don’t you dare disburse it,” he wrote, warning both officials and company leaders that political accountability will follow.
The armed forces should prioritise equipment, salaries, and working conditions over costly image campaigns, he said.
Ruszin-Szendi also signalled that a full review of such contracts is coming, stating that “every forint” will be examined and no one will evade responsibility.
He suggested that ongoing investigations and broader concerns over public spending make the agreement both morally and legally questionable.
“The Hungarian armed forces is not a cash cow for the Fidesz campaign,” he declared, framing the issue as part of a wider pattern of misuse of public funds.
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Sources regularly consulted, with abbreviations used in text: Népszabadság (N); Magyar Hírlap (MH); Világgazdaság (VG); Napi Gazdaság (NG); Magyar Nemzet (MN); Népszava (Nsz); Kossuth Rádió news (KR); nightly TV news (TV).
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