Szijjártó joins BYD after resignation

Hungary's former foreign minister Péter Szijjártó resigned his parliamentary seat on July 15, 2026, to take an executive position with Chinese electric automaker BYD Company, responsible for external relations and new business lines. Szijjártó, who served under former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for nearly 12 years, had been instrumental in securing state subsidies for BYD Company's European factory in Hungary and its Budapest research center. The move drew criticism from Prime Minister Péter Magyar, who accused Szijjártó of representing foreign interests and lobbying for subsidies while in office. The event highlights ongoing EU-China trade tensions, with the EU imposing tariffs on Chinese EVs and China threatening retaliation. Szijjártó also maintained close ties with Russia during his tenure, including frequent contacts with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.