According to the newly published report, Ruszin-Szendi’s Dunakeszi service villa cost taxpayers over HUF 1 billion. The location? Personally selected by the former chief of staff for its convenience. The property itself? Outfitted with such extravagance, it rivals high-end private estates. All paid for using public money.
The breakdown is as shocking as it is absurd. The villa, originally purchased for HUF 235 million, underwent upgrades worth 652.5 million more. Add another 132.2 million for furniture and appliances, and the total exceeds 1 billion. For reference, the average Hungarian would need multiple lifetimes to earn what was squandered here.
Among the purchases: a custom-designed outdoor garden bed (18 million), a jacuzzi (7.6 million), an indoor sauna (6.7 million), a grill oven (6.5 million), and a pool table (4 million). Inside the house, Ruszin-Szendi demanded French beds worth 2 million each, a 720,000 forint coffee machine, and even a 360,000 forint wine cooler. One email from Ruszin-Szendi to his procurement team reveals the mindset clearly: “We’d like a whisky barrel as décor by the pool table and a smaller one in the office as a service table.”
This wasn't a case of outfitting a professional residence — it was an indulgent wishlist for personal comfort. Ruszin-Szendi and his wife asked for ceiling mirrors, makeup tables, PlayStations, designer bathrobes, and even premium mattresses. The villa's terrace was fitted with sun loungers and a full outdoor kitchen. They didn't forget storage for their pillows and robes either.
Yet, this palace served them for a mere five months in 2023 before they moved out. The state never recouped a forint — no new tenant has been found, and the villa now sits empty while taxpayers continue to fund its maintenance, costing an additional 10.3 million so far.
This is not just about waste. It's about impunity. It's about a culture where public funds are treated as private wallets. Where “service accommodation” becomes code for luxury living. And where the people footing the bill are never those enjoying the spoils.
Hungarians deserve better. They deserve accountability. Ruszin-Szendi’s villa is not just a scandal — it’s a warning.