State Assets Transferred to University Foundations and Church
Significant properties to be granted for educational and religious purposes
A recent legislative proposal presented to the Hungarian Parliament indicates that more state assets may be transferred to foundations managing universities.
The Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design and the University of Dunaújváros are among the beneficiaries.
According to the proposal, the foundation overseeing Moholy-Nagy University could receive the management rights, indefinitely, of a state-owned property in Balatonakali.
Meanwhile, the foundation for the University of Dunaújváros could acquire two properties in Balatonszemes.
This transfer is intended to support their public interest goals and service of public tasks after parliamentary approval.
However, the Dunaújváros University Foundation, led by János Süli, a KDNP parliamentary representative, must allow the BSE Palóc Farkasok Youth Sports Association to use the Balatonszemes properties for free.
Barna János, deputy president of the association and a political figure linked to Fidesz-KDNP, openly campaigned in local elections.
In recent years, 21 state universities have been managed by government-aligned foundation boards, receiving significant state assets like campuses and sport facilities.
The estimated value of these transfers is considered to be in the hundreds of billions of forints.
Moreover, another bill proposes transferring a state-owned property in Gyöngyös to the Egri Archdiocese for educational and religious purposes.
The property previously housed the Almásy Pál Agricultural Vocational School.