Hungary Pays Excessive Fees to Balásy Gyula‑Linked Firms on State Contracts

Transparency International obtained documents showing that Hungary’s Prime Minister’s Office awarded several contracts between April and December 2025 to companies owned by Balásy Gyula – Lounge Design and New Land Media. Payments far exceeded market rates, including a 6.4 million‑forint logo for ministerial aide Róbert König, a 7.49 million‑forint two‑minute animation for the Rural Home Renovation Programme, a 1.8 million‑forint countdown widget for the Voks 2025 campaign website, and an additional 4.4 million forint for TikTok videos linked to the Health Window programme.

The documents detail that eight specialists logged a total of 66 hours on the countdown widget, while seven experts logged 246 hours on the logo, with hourly fees quoted at 215 000 forints for the animator and 525 000 forints per day for a cinematographer – rates described by industry insiders as many times higher than typical market prices. An accompanying graphic designer noted that a high‑end logo normally costs 300‑600 thousand forints, and a full corporate identity 2‑4 million forints. A criminal investigation into suspected improper handling of Balásy’s enterprises has been underway since 2024.