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[POLITICS] · Hungary · 7 sources

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Part of situation: Hungarian business funding of Megafon network (2 clusters)

Mészáros-linked companies donated 4.5 billion HUF to Megafon

Megafon Lőrinc Mészáros political funding Hungary propaganda

Investigations by Direkt36 have revealed that companies owned by Hungarian businessman Lőrinc Mészáros transferred at least 4.5 billion HUF to Megafon, a pro-government social media influence network, between 2022 and 2024. These donations represent approximately one-third of Megafon's total revenue during this period.

Specific transfers identified in internal documents include 310 million HUF from V-Híd Zrt. in 2022, 100 million HUF from Kontúr Csoport Kft. in 2022, and 217 million HUF from R-Kord Kft. in 2023. Notably, internal records indicate that V-Híd Zrt. recorded 3 billion HUF in support to Megafon in 2024 alone.

Additionally, V-Híd Zrt. provided 220 million HUF in 2022 to Aktuális Média Kft., a company owned by Dávid Filep, known for producing pro-government content. While Megafon leader István Kovács previously stated the organization relied on support from 'conservative businessmen,' the documents clarify the specific corporate sources of these funds.

Entities

Direkt36 · István Kovács · Kontúr Csoport Kft. · Lőrinc Mészáros · MegaFon · R-Kord Kft. · V-Híd Zrt.

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

  • [● 3 SOURCES] V-Híd recorded a total of 3 billion HUF in support given to Megafon in 2024. refresher.hu · hvg.hu
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] Megafon recorded 4.6 billion HUF in 'other income' in 2024.
  • [● 3 SOURCES] V-Híd Zrt. provided 310 million HUF in support to Megafon in 2022. refresher.hu · hvg.hu
  • [● 3 SOURCES] Aktuális Média Kft., owned by Dávid Filep, received 220 million HUF in support in 2022. refresher.hu · hvg.hu
  • [● 4 SOURCES] Companies owned by Lőrinc Mészáros transferred more than 4.5 billion HUF to Megafon between 2022 and 2024. refresher.hu · telex.hu · hvg.hu
  • [● 3 SOURCES] The donations from Mészáros-linked companies accounted for approximately one-third of Megafon's revenue during the period. telex.hu · hvg.hu
  • [● 3 SOURCES] R-Kord Kft. sent 217 million HUF to Megafon in 2023. refresher.hu · hvg.hu
  • [● 2 SOURCES] Kontúr Csoport Kft. transferred 100 million HUF to Megafon in 2022. refresher.hu · hvg.hu

Sources

Kontroll: 80 százalékos adókedvezményt és VIP támogatást is. . . [kontroll.hu]
Direkt36: Mészáros Lőrinc cégeitől kapott milliókat a Megafon [refresher.hu]
Háromezer lakás a Népszigeten, 33 méteres házak az Aradi utcában – nemet mondott az újpesti önkormányzat [www.economx.hu]
Adókedvezmény, milliárdok és VIP-státusz – így csalogatta az Orbán-kormány Debrecenbe az akkugyárat [www.forbes.hu]
Kiderült, honnan érkeztek a Megafon milliárdjai: Mészáros Lőrinc cégei legalább 4,5 milliárdot adhattak [twice.hu]
Kiderült, honnan ömlöttek milliárdok a Megafonnak – Mészáros-akták I. [telex.hu]
Mészáros Lőrinc cégei több milliárd forinttal tömték ki a fideszes propagandaadó Megafont [hvg.hu]