A company owned by Hungarian construction billionaire László Szíjj donated approximately $863,000 to Megafon, a political advertising agency known for promoting former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party. The payments, revealed in company financial statements reviewed by investigative journalists, highlight the financial connections between wealthy business figures and political media organizations in Hungary.

The disclosures come as Hungary undergoes a major political transition following Orbán’s electoral defeat in April 2026, ending his 16 years in power. Since then, Megafon has significantly reduced its public presence, while the new government has begun changing the state advertising practices that supported parts of the former ruling party’s media network.

Financial records reveal substantial donations

The payments were documented in two years of annual financial statements from Vakond Via Kft., a company belonging to Szíjj’s business interests. The records, examined by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and Hungarian investigative outlet Direkt36, show that Vakond Via provided a total of 300 million Hungarian forints in cash grants to Megafon Digital Incubator Center.

The contributions amounted to approximately $252,000 in 2024 and $611,000 in 2025, bringing the total to around $863,000.

These payments represent a significant source of financial support for an organization that became an influential force in Hungary’s political advertising landscape. Neither Megafon nor Szíjj responded to requests for comment about the reported donations.

It remains unclear whether Vakond Via continued supporting Megafon in 2026. The company’s annual financial reports for that year were not yet available, and Vakond Via did not respond to a request for comment.

Megafon’s influence and its decline

Founded in 2020, Megafon became one of Hungary’s most prominent political advertising agencies. Its primary role was to run social media campaigns supporting Orbán and his Fidesz party, helping promote the former government’s political messages to online audiences.

Social media advertising has become an important tool for political movements........

© Blitz