The bank must make these available within 15 days. Referring to documents the bank published in wake of an earlier suit, Burány said that most properties had been appraised by the same firm, and at a significantly higher price than the company’s initial quote.

The appraisals are questionable because a quarter of them are “quotes from the internet with no indication of the source”, Burány said.

He noted that one of the NBH’s proper ties, the Eif fel Palace in central Budapest, had been appraised by an international company with the involvement of Justice Minister László Trócsányi’s law firm.

The purpose, according to the central bank’s requirements, was not to get the best price for taxpayers’ money but to maximise its investment value, he argued.

Republished with permission of Hungary Matters, MTI’s daily newsletter.