Hungarian authorities are investigating potential corruption within the Óbuda-Békásmegyer district of Budapest, with a focus on contracts related to cleaning services. The inquiry highlights ongoing concerns about transparency in local government and comes after a recent period of political turmoil for the district’s leadership.
On March 13, investigators with the Central Investigative Prosecutor’s Office (KNYF) searched the offices of the Óbuda-Békásmegyer Market Authority, according to reports. The KNYF confirmed that the search was part of an ongoing corruption investigation, stating that “the Central Investigative Prosecutor’s Office (KNYF) recently carried out investigative – including on-site – actions in a previously ongoing corruption case.”
The district’s municipal government, led by Mayor László Kiss of the Democratic Coalition (DK), acknowledged the visit. Officials stated that they fully cooperated with the investigation, providing the requested documents. “Our colleagues naturally assisted in their work and provided the requested materials,” the municipality said in a statement. However, they too expressed concern over leaks to the press regarding the investigation, calling such disclosures “unacceptable.”
Investigators specifically requested documentation related to cleaning contracts, sources confirmed. The timing of the investigation comes less than a year after Mayor Kiss returned to City Hall in May 2025, following a nine-month prison sentence. Kiss was initially arrested in August 2024 on suspicion of abuse of office, conspiracy, and bribery. Prosecutors alleged that after being elected mayor in October 2019, Kiss reached an agreement with an associate to ensure that companies linked to the associate would receive regular contracts from the municipality, in exchange for kickbacks to Kiss and other officials.
Prosecutors claimed the municipality entered into fictitious, overpriced contracts with companies created for this purpose. Kiss has consistently denied the allegations, and the DK has suggested the proceedings against him were politically motivated by high-ranking government officials seeking to oust him. The prosecutor’s office has not indicated whether the current investigation is connected to the previous allegations.
Here’s not the first instance of corruption concerns within the Óbuda district. Shortly after the 2024 municipal elections, Gergő Czeglédy, the district’s former MSZP deputy mayor, was also arrested and detained.
