Former transport minister says secret letter rule and highway deal sparked criminal complaint

Transport and investment minister Vitézy Dávid said that a former internal instruction from ex-minister Lázár János dictated that any letter addressed to Prime Minister Orbán Viktor had to conclude with a specific farewell phrase. Vitézy added that Lázár, while still a minister, ignored his own ministry’s recommendation and assigned the M6 highway concession to a company connected to businessmen Mészáros Lőrinc and Szíjj László.

This alleged breach of procedure prompted Vitézy’s ministry to lodge a criminal complaint with the Budapest prosecutor’s office in August. The complaint alleges that the concession was granted at a price considerably higher than the offers later submitted by one outlet operator, M6 Duna, which proposes to maintain the highway for a substantially lower amount while meeting the highest quality standards. Vitézy’s revelations highlight internal practices and potential misuse of authority in major infrastructure projects.