For years, the person of Lőrinc Mészáros has been used by the Hungarian and international anti-Orbán camp as a bogeyman of alleged corruption and cronyism. None of the allegations of illegal activity have been proven so far, but the narrative has proved useful during the TISZA party’s election campaign. Now though, embarrassing details have surfaced from the man himself, who has published excerpts from Péter Magyar’s cringe-worthy application letters (unsuccessfully) applying for lucrative jobs in Mr. Mészáros’ business empire.

In an open letter published in Magyar Nemzet, the billionaire entrepreneur responds to vicious social media attacks by Magyar, in which he reveals extremely embarrassing details about the prime minister’s former FIDESZ past. We are publishing the letter in a slightly shortened version.

“Dear Party Chairman,

Over the past year, you (Péter Magyar, ed. note) have mentioned me so many times—even though we do not actually know each other, except perhaps for a brief encounter—that I felt it was time to respond to a few of your remarks…

First, let us address the fact that a few days ago you called me arrogant, aggressive, and threatening. I still cannot figure out who I threatened or how. Aggression? Mr. Party Chairman, it is common knowledge that you have anger management issues! You do not need to be an expert to see this—just watch the countless videos circulating on social media showing how you react when you think the camera is not rolling or when you are asked questions you do not like at your rallies. Or even with your own colleagues. Or in your private life. So perhaps it would be wise for you to count to ten before you’re the one accusing others of aggression, because this comes across as disingenuous and laughable.

…

Seeing the content about me in the propaganda papers that loyally work under you, I sometimes feel like I am in a strange rewritten version of the movie *50 First Dates*. It seems that year after year, week after week, and day after day, the fact that I am a billionaire hits you with the force of a novelty. Let me clarify: I have been a billionaire since 2009, to be exact—back when FIDESZ was still in the opposition. You can already start preparing your next grandiose rant about how arrogant I am, but the fact is, I am a billionaire—it is simply a fact…

I deeply regret that, thanks to you, the profession of gas fitter (PM called him a “gas fitter, ed note.) has now become a term of derision in Hungary… Unlike you, who come from an intellectual family in Budapest, I come from a small rural village. My parents could not afford to send us to school; back then, in the countryside, people did not even consider it important. This may surprise you, but not everyone has the means to go to college. It is already a huge accomplishment for someone to learn a trade while living in complete poverty.

I am proud that I trained as a gas fitter and started working in that field!… I was among the first to become a general contractor and build public utility networks. That’s how I made my first million back in the ’90s. You see, Mr. Party Chairman, not everyone is lucky enough to ride on their wife’s coattails to land well-paying jobs year after year. As I mentioned, we do not know each other, even though

you have been trying for years to get close to me and land a job with me.

My favorite of these attempts was when you tried to get a job at Opus Global Nyrt. and wrote in your cover letter (yes, I still have all those emails), and I quote: “I would be reluctant to switch to ‘ordinary’ legal work.” According to this, you now look down on “run-of-the-mill” lawyers as well as gas fitters. Congratulations. In the same letter, you also write: “I have been just about everything during my 20-year career—except for a hanged man.”

Mr. Party Chairman, there is no need to view the future so gloomily; this period was not all that bad, after all, since your salary demands indicate that your gross salary at the time was 3.3 million (EUR 9000) forints plus bonuses, and you would be reluctant to accept anything less. Wow! He wrote this letter in November 2023! And by February 2024, he (PM, ed. note) was already giving a disillusioned interview in *Partizán* (far left Hungarian media network, ed. note) against the very system of which he had been an active part for 14 years as the wife (sorry, husband) of a soccer player. But actually, I understand his outrage and disappointment, because if he had gotten a job with us, he too could be flying around today in those much-talked-about helicopters and private jets—after all, my executives regularly use these aircraft for their business trips.

Unfortunately, however, he was unable to secure a position because he did not meet the professional standards required to join our company. And yet you really did everything you could: in December 2023, for example, you exchanged lengthy emails and phone calls with one of the executives at MBH Bank (I still have these messages) about how you wanted to sit as close as possible to my table at the bank’s Christmas party, no matter what. He ultimately succeeded, so, if I recall correctly, that’s when he was able to get close enough to me to say hello, but nothing more happened.

In addition, during the correspondence, he changed his mind several times about which female companion he would bring to the event, emphasizing that the place card must not list the name of any other woman.

Meanwhile, you were also a member of the supervisory board of MBH Bank starting in September 2022, where, in addition to the 3.3 million forint salary you disclosed, you received an additional 1.5 million forints (EUR 4000) in compensation. It seems, therefore, that this salary of nearly 5 million forint—and that is just what we knew about—was not enough for you. From there, it was a straight path to the studio of the show *Partizán*. I hope you are making more money now, Mr. Party Chairman, and that your self-serving calculations have paid off!”