Tiborcz-Linked Firm Loses 1.2B Forint Bus Contract After Ministry Intervenes

Tiborcz's companies have won multiple state contracts in recent years. They own a bus fleet large enough to handle the replacement work, which is one reason they entered the business last year, the report noted. Pannon Busz-Rent and Infinitours together operate more than 100 buses, according to public records. Tiborcz, the son-in-law of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has expanded his business interests into transport and real estate through his holding company, BDPST Group.

The contract loss is a setback for his transport ventures. The companies remain well-positioned for future bids. They have the fleet and the track record that made them the winning bidders in the first place.

A new tender for the same service could be announced in the future. The timing is unclear. The ministry's decision effectively blocks any multi-year contract until at least 2028. That means MÁV cannot commit to long-term bus replacement deals for the next several years. The cancellation leaves MÁV without a long-term replacement bus provider for the GYSEV route, potentially forcing it to rely on ad-hoc arrangements.

Neither MÁV nor the ministry commented on the cancellation beyond the official notice, Átlátszó said. Pannon Busz-Rent and Infinitours have not responded to requests for comment. The European Commission has repeatedly criticized Hungary's public procurement practices in recent years. It has not commented on this specific case.