Hungary's government files 1 trillion‑forint Eximbank fraud complaints

Hungary’s Ministry of Economic and Energy has lodged criminal complaints against the state‑owned Export‑Import Bank (Eximbank) over four financing contracts whose combined value exceeds 1 trillion forint. The deals include a 59 billion‑forint loan for converting the former Sofitel hotel and adjacent former Malév office, a 126 billion‑forint bond‑financing for Duna Asfalt’s Kasomeno‑Mwenda toll‑road project linking Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, a 576 billion‑forint loan for an Egyptian state‑railway rolling‑stock programme, and a 360 billion‑forint arrangement for North Macedonia. All contracts were flagged for unusually high risk and weak collateral; the state has guaranteed about 80 % of the African project’s exposure (roughly 101 billion forint). Eximbank, fully owned by the Hungarian state, is accused of bypassing internal risk‑assessment rules and approving the loans within days. The ministry says the investigations will determine who authorised the irregularities and may lead to criminal prosecution.