A $1.5 million roundabout from nowhere to nowhere shows the ‘Orbánist economy’
By Christian Edwards
Published on April 11, 2026.
A $1.5 million roundabout near Zalaegerszeg in western Hungary was built with funds from the European Union, but there is still no railway. Critics of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán argue these projects are a monument to the government's economic system, which they believe has been built. They accuse Orbán of demonizing the EU and accepting vast amounts of money from it, much of which came from initiatives intended to help the bloc's poorer, recent members catch up with their richer neighbors. Critics also point out that the government has failed to adequately fund its allocated funding compared to its peers. Critics argue that this is not the only unfinished or unhelpful project in Hungary that has received EU funds. The country has been ranked as the most corrupt country in the EU by corruption watchdog Transparency International.
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