FPÖ warns: Strabag involved in Hungarian election campaign chaos!

FPÖ warns: Strabag involved in Hungarian election campaign chaos!

On November 1, 2025, FPÖ General Secretary Christian Hafenecker will respond to the serious allegations made by Hungarian Minister János Lázár. He accused the Austrian construction company Strabag of interfering in the Hungarian election campaign. According to Lázár, Strabag is supposed to financially support the Hungarian opposition party TISZA, led by Péter Magyar, and commission opinion polls. These accusations highlight the current tensions between Hungary and Austrian political culture.

Hafenecker describes the allegations as a “foreign policy explosive” and demands comprehensive clarification from Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger. In the current debate about foreign influence, Hafenecker criticizes double standards, especially in comparison to Russian influences. He raises the explosive question of whether structures close to the EU or Ukraine may be involved in this matter.

Political and economic backgrounds

The situation surrounding Strabag is complex and is influenced by various factors. The dispute over construction defects on the M30 motorway between Miskolc and Szikszó plays a central role here. Lázár has demanded that Strabag correct these deficiencies by the end of October. However, this deadline was not met, which led to the closure of the route and thus to a debate between the Hungarian Ministry of Construction and Transport and Strabag. Lázár then threatened extraordinary financial audits and legal action against the company and reproachfully turned his back on it instead of looking after the interests of the motorway users.

The Tisza party has vehemently denied allegations of financial support from Strabag, stressing that it is legitimately supported by tens of thousands of Hungarians, unlike the ruling Fidesz party. Given the upcoming parliamentary elections next spring, Tisza could become a serious challenger to incumbent Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Impact on Strabag

As a company, Strabag is not only under observation regarding its political activities, but also because of its economic entanglements. The company is controlled by the Haselsteiner family as well as Raiffeisen and Uniqa. Hans-Peter Haselsteiner, the former CEO of Strabag, was known for his politically active role and his large donations to liberal parties in Austria. This could contribute to the current perception of the company as a political actor in Hungary.

Finally, Hafenecker announced that he would examine the case in parliament and submit a question to the Foreign Minister. He would like to disclose the contacts and information flows between Strabag, NEOS, EU committees and Hungarian opposition representatives. “Austria must not become an exporter of party political influence,” warns Hafenecker, thereby providing additional material for discussion in the political landscape.

The situation illustrates how closely political and economic concerns are intertwined and raises the question of how Austrian companies should act in foreign markets.

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