“The only difference from before is that from now on, Péter Szijjártó will not be paid by the Hungarian people for the same ‘work,’ but by his actual employer,” wrote Magyar.
A Fidesz loyalist since the late 1990s, Szijjártó served as Orbán’s spokesperson before he became foreign minister in 2014 — a position he held until earlier this year. As Hungary’s top diplomat, he became one of the strongest advocates for closer ties with Beijing and Moscow. In March, he acknowledged liaising with senior Russian officials while EU governments debated fresh sanctions against the Kremlin.
BYD has grown central to China’s manufacturing push in Europe. The EV company is expected to begin assembling cars at its new Hungarian factory later this year after prioritizing the site as its main European production hub.
Szijjártó is not the only European politician headed for the automotive business either. Former German Finance Minister Christian Lindner, who left politics after his party’s election defeat, is set to become chief executive of Germany’s largest car dealer, Autoland AG, in 2027.