Budapest Police investigate August 20 event procurement

The Budapest Police Headquarters (BRFK) has launched an investigation into the public procurement process for organizing the August 20 state event series. The investigation focuses on suspicions of an anti-competitive agreement within the procurement and concession procedures.

The case gained attention following allegations that the eventual winner, Hardrock Kft., may have had advance knowledge of the tender. Former MP Ákos Hadházy claimed to have reviewed correspondence suggesting the procurement process was manipulated to favor specific actors. Specifically, it is alleged that parties linked to the winning firm were communicating about the event weeks before the official tender was announced.

Márk Radnai, a government commissioner, has been mentioned in relation to the correspondence, though he denied involvement in organizing the events, stating he only learned of the contents through media reports. Additionally, László Toroczkai, leader of the Mi Hazánk movement, filed a report, pointing to communications involving former event director Miklós Zelcsényi that predated the official call for bids.