Lazar: Hungary faces HUF 60-70 bn fine for metro 4 project

Hungary faces a fine of 60-70 billion forints (EUR 190-225m) due to financial abuses linked to the Socialist-liberal administration during the metro 4 construction project, the government office chief said. The government has established that the abuses did indeed take place but is endeavouring to get the fine reduced through negotiations, Janos Lazar told a regular press briefing. He said Economy Minister Mihaly Varga has been asked to set aside the relevant funds in the 2018 budget without depleting funds for health care, the social sector or education. Of the 452 billion forint total cost of the metro project, corruption by the former Socialist-liberal government allegedly affected 272 billion forints, and 166 billion forints of it was likely stolen, Lazar said. Of the latter sum, 76 billion forints was provided by the European Union and the rest by the Hungarian taxpayer.