Hungary probes Orban-era education software contracts for alleged fund misuse

Hungary’s new administration under Prime Minister Peter Magyar sent a report to police alleging misuse of public funds in the purchase of educational software during the previous Orban government. The ministry’s review of IT contracts dating back to 2019 flagged more than 100 billion forints spent on compulsory school software, citing lack of competition, monopolistic practices, poor quality and unjustifiably high prices.

Science and Technology Minister Zoltán Tanács said the findings prompted a criminal complaint covering the KRÉTA, Neptun and Poszeidon systems, with six alleged offences and a 40‑page indictment. The complaint also highlighted a monopoly by the firms operating these platforms and the flow of over 100 billion forints from the state budget. A 30‑day heightened security operation was ordered in Budapest as part of the investigation. The European Commission has signaled that €16.4 billion of EU funding previously withheld over corruption concerns will be released once the probe progresses.