The Hungarian National Cultural Fund (NKA) has cancelled 393.9 million forints in grant funding after a review by the National Cultural Support Manager revealed administrative irregularities in decisions made by Balázs Hankó. The cancellations, led by Zoltán Tarr, followed findings that some grants were awarded without formal written applications or exceeded requested amounts.
How Were the Irregularities Identified?
The decision to revoke the funding stems from a systematic audit of the ministerial discretionary budget. According to reports from RTL, the National Cultural Support Manager conducted a review of the 30 grants approved by Balázs Hankó on April 8, 2026—just four days before the election. The audit concluded that the allocation process lacked transparency, noting that in several instances, the standard requirement of a written application was bypassed entirely.
Why Was the Funding for Éva Kanalas Revoked?
Éva Kanalas was among the 30 beneficiaries initially selected for a 4-million-forint grant intended for the second volume of her research project, “The Hungarian Singer Among Tuvan Shamans of Southern Siberia.” However, Kanalas told RTL that she never formally applied for this specific round of funding. While she had submitted a request for the project the previous year, that application was officially rejected.
Éva Kanalas reported that she was contacted by an NKA staff member shortly before the election and informed she would receive the grant. However, she was unable to complete the necessary documentation due to being abroad at the time. When she attempted to follow up after the election, the staff member was no longer employed by the NKA.
What Are the Consequences for Cultural Grant Management?
The mass cancellation of these grants marks a significant shift in how ministerial discretionary funds are handled. By invalidating the entire batch of 30 grants, the current administration is aiming to standardize the application process. The investigation highlighted that several high-value recipients were also subject to these irregular procedures, leading to a complete freeze on the payments.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who authorized the original grants? The grants were authorized by Balázs Hankó in April 2026.
- Why were the grants cancelled? The National Cultural Support Manager found irregularities, including the lack of written applications and improper funding amounts.
- Can the affected applicants reapply? The reports do not specify a path for reapplication, but the current administration has nullified all decisions made during that specific timeframe.
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