BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) 鈥� Hungary’s former foreign minister has resigned his seat in parliament and taken an executive position with Chinese electric automaker BYD, he announced in a social media post on Wednesday.
P茅ter Szijj谩rt贸, who served as Hungary’s top diplomat for nearly 12 years in the government of former Prime Minister Viktor Orb谩n, wrote on Facebook that he had received 鈥渁 highly prestigious offer鈥� from 鈥渢o fill an international position.鈥�
鈥淏YD is one of the greatest success stories in the automotive industry over the past 20 years,鈥� Szijj谩rt贸 wrote. 鈥淪tarting today, I will continue to work as the executive responsible for the group鈥檚 external relations and the development of new business lines.鈥�
Szijj谩rt贸 lost his position as foreign minister after Orb谩n and his far-right Fidesz party lost a in April to the pro-European Tisza party and its leader, Prime Minister P茅ter Magyar.
Since then, Szijj谩rt贸 had been absent for most parliamentary votes and rarely appeared in public or posted on social media. He has held a seat in Parliament since 2002.
In 2023, Szijj谩rt贸 announced that his now-employer BYD would in Hungary 鈥� allowing the conglomerate to skirt European Union import tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles imposed to protect the continent’s domestic auto manufacturing sector.
As Hungary’s foreign affairs and trade minister, Szijj谩rt贸 played a central role in talks with BYD on bringing the plant to Hungary, and said at the time that the decision came after 224 rounds of negotiations between the company and Hungary鈥檚 government.
Szijj谩rt贸 called the project 鈥渙ne of the largest investments in Hungarian economic history,鈥� and said the government would provide financial incentives to BYD for building the plant.
While in office, Szijj谩rt贸 and Orb谩n opposed EU tariffs against Chinese products and sought major investment from Beijing, opening a across the country.
Orb谩n’s government and Beijing also jointly developed a rail corridor between Hungary and Serbia that is part of China鈥檚 .
While foreign minister, Szijj谩rt贸 maintained close relations with Russia despite its on Feb. 23, 2022. Breaking with nearly all of his EU counterparts, he to negotiate agreements on purchasing Russian oil and gas, and to meet with Russian , whom he referred to as his 鈥渇riend.鈥�
Szijj谩rt贸 was awarded the Russian Order of Friendship in 2021 by President Vladimir Putin, one of the highest state honors that can be received by a foreign citizen.
He was during Hungary’s 2026 election campaign when The Washington Post reported that he made regular phone calls to Lavrov during high-level EU meetings with 鈥渓ive reports on what鈥檚 been discussed.鈥�
Szijj谩rt贸 dismissed the report while acknowledging that he conferred with Lavrov before and after EU foreign minister meetings about their agenda and decisions.
In March, Orb谩n’s government against a prominent Hungarian investigative journalist for activities he carried out while investigating Szijj谩rt贸’s communications with Lavrov. Those charges were dropped after Hungary’s new government took office.
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
