Hungarian minister Hankó Balázs distributes twice the usual NKA funds in two months

The government reports that Minister Hankó Balázs distributed 1.83 billion forints from the National Cultural Fund during 2025, but in the 31 days preceding the election he approved 5.23 billion forints, a distribution rate double that of the entire previous year. A list of 69 previously unfunded organisations received more than 2 billion forints, while profit-oriented entities were allocated roughly 1.7 billion forints under his ministerial decisions.

The ministerial allocation achieved a 99.4% approval rate for applicants, compared with about a 40% success rate in standard grant procedures. Hankó Balázs is awaiting a court decision on a request for pre-trial detention, facing accusations of steering hundreds of grants to support the governing party’s campaign and personal networks. The scandal emerged after a staff member of the National Cultural Support Management disclosed a hidden 17 billion-forint payout, prompting investigations that have led to multiple arrests of officials linked to the fund.