OLAF said the investigation into the public lighting contracts won by Tiborcz’s company Elios was undertaken at the initiative of Democratic Coalition MEP Csaba Molnár. The Democratic Coalition said the inquiry indicates that the sudden accumulation of wealth by Orbán’s family and friends has become conspicuous in Europe.

“The family and friends of Viktor Orbán stuff their pockets with EU funds and do not stand on their own feet,” the party declared.

News website Origo notes that Elios has been awarded Ft 1.2 billion of EU funds for various public lighting projects in Hungary in recent years. Other reports said Tiborcz received Ft 470 million in dividends last year.

Elios told Origo that it is unaware that OLAF or any other EU body is investigating any public lighting projects, as the company has received no official notification to this effect. It said that it won all public procurement contracts in line with regulations.

PMO undersecretary Nándor Csepreghy said the cabinet co-operates with OLAF in all inquiries and would like the European Commission and the Hungarian public to have a completely clear picture of the utilisation of funds in all cases.

Source: Hungary Around the Clock

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