Mayor in Hungary Misuses EU Funds to Build Treeless Treetop Walkway
In a bizarre turn of events, a mayor in eastern Hungary applied for European Union funds to build a “treetop canopy walkway” in his village, only to cut down all the trees on the land and sell them for wood before construction began. The result? A treetop walkway that looks out onto an expanse of empty dirt.
The mayor, a supporter of Hungary’s governing Fidesz party, received a grant worth about $175,000 for the project, which now stands as a stark reminder of the misuse of EU funds. The walkway, located in the village of Nyirmartonfalva near the Romanian border, has become a symbol of corruption and nepotism within the Hungarian government.
The European Union’s anti-fraud office is currently investigating the project, which has sparked outrage among opposition legislators and independent news outlets critical of the government. The mayor, Filemon Maholy, has also faced backlash from local residents who are dismayed by the wasteful use of taxpayer money.
Despite the scandal, Prime Minister Viktor Orban continues to receive praise from right-wing Europeans and former U.S. president Donald J. Trump for his nationalist stance against the European Union. However, allegations of corruption and cronyism within Orban’s government have tarnished his reputation both at home and abroad.
As the investigation into the treeless treetop walkway continues, the mayor and his allies are under scrutiny for their misuse of EU funds and their close ties to the ruling Fidesz party. The case serves as a cautionary tale of the pitfalls of unchecked power and the need for transparency in government spending.
