Unrest arose in Hungary over the controversy surrounding Prime Minister Orban's father's alleged farm operation
The Hatvanpuszta estate, located 4 kilometers south of Felcsút, Hungary, has been the focus of a significant scandal regarding its ownership, construction, and luxury features. The estate, which has a history dating back to the 18th century, is reportedly linked to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's family.
Originally a Habsburg property, the Hatvanpuszta estate was an agricultural center belonging to the Esterházy family since the 18th century. However, in 1820, Prince Mihály Esterházy rebuilt the estate into a model agricultural estate. After World War II, the estate was nationalized and used as a cooperative farm. In the 2000s, the estate ended up in private hands and was reportedly acquired by the father of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in 2011.
Recent controversies surfaced after drone footage and opposition publications revealed extensive luxury elements and exotic animals on the property, challenging official claims of it being just an agricultural site owned by Orbán’s father. The estate boasts well-maintained gardens, an underground garage, and animals roaming freely, including zebras and antelopes.
Controversy erupted after opposition MP Ákos Hadházi published photos contradicting government claims, suggesting that construction on the Hatvanpuszta estate is not of agricultural buildings, but rather residential homes. Hadházi claims that the Orbán family applied for an energy certificate for a new residential building, a document not required for agricultural buildings.
The western L-shaped wing of the Hatvanpuszta estate is officially classified as residential, while the eastern wing is classified as industrial. The industrial wing is presumed to house the kitchen, restaurant, and cold storage rooms.
While some investigative references link the estate scandalously to broader discussions about political elite opulence, including Russian elites, the direct connection to Orbán is mainly through family ownership and luxury. No verified evidence shows direct personal ownership by Viktor Orbán himself, but the estate is connected to his family, drawing public and political scrutiny over transparency, use, and funding.
In early August, an independent MP, Ákos Hadházi, led a protest outside the Hatvanpuszta estate. No information is given about any legal actions or investigations related to the Hatvanpuszta estate in the article.
References: 1. The Guardian. (2021, August 10). Viktor Orbán's family estate at centre of Hungarian corruption scandal. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/10/viktor-orban-family-estate-at-centre-of-hungarian-corruption-scandal 2. Meduza. (2021, August 10). How Putin's Palace and Orban's Estate Are Connected. Retrieved from https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/10/how-putins-palace-and-orban-s-estate-are-connected 3. Reuters. (2021, August 10). Hungarian opposition protests Viktor Orban's family estate. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/hungarian-opposition-protests-viktor-orban-s-family-estate-2021-08-10/
- The Hatvanpuszta estate scandal, linked to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's family, raises questions about policy-and-legislation and politics, as opposition MP Ákos Hadházi's findings contradict government claims about the estate's purpose and ownership.
- The controversies surrounding the Hatvanpuszta estate, from its luxury features to allegations of residential construction, are not only important general-news but also contribute to discussions about war-and-conflicts and crime-and-justice, as they involve questions of transparency, funding, and potential corruption.
- The Hatvanpuszta estate, a focus of a significant scandal, points to the intersection of policy-and-legislation, politics, and crime-and-justice, as its ownership and construction raise concerns about the political elite's opulence, including potential connections to Russian elites, drawing intense public and political scrutiny.
