Boss of Orbán-backed MCC Brussels quits, saying staff have not been paid

Frank Füredi, the executive director of MCC Brussels, the EU's most prominent right-wing think tank, has resigned, citing the employer's failure to pay staff. In a letter to the organization's board, Füredi stated that his resignation is effective immediately, driven by a "severe cause attributable exclusively to the employer." He highlighted that contractual obligations had been "irreversibly broken" due to the employer's persistent refusal to provide the agreed-upon funds.

MCC Brussels, founded in 2022 with Hungarian government support under the previous government of Viktor Orbán, has faced growing tensions with the current administration. The Hungary-based Mathias Corvinus Collegium, led by Balázs Orbán, a close Orbán ally, announced Balázs Orbán's resignation in June over alleged dismantling of the organization.

MCC Brussels received substantial funding from the Budapest-based college, with the new government accusing the group of being part of a state-backed network aimed at spreading political views of the former ruling party. Füredi's resignation letter revealed that withheld funds have left staff unpaid and projects unfinished, highlighting the economic hardship faced by the organization.

The EU's database of lobbyists and campaign groups had already suspended MCC Brussels' membership, potentially limiting its access to the European Parliament. MCC Brussels, known for its advocacy of populism, had vowed to seek alternative funding sources and continue its activities. The think tank has previously denied any irregularities in its registration with the Transparency Register, dismissing the suspension as an attempt to suppress it due to ideological reasons.