By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife reporting from Budapest, Hungary
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (BosNewsLife)– The government of Hungary’s family-values-preaching Prime Minister Viktor Orbán allows a leading American porn producer to operate in the country openly, allegedly in exchange for millions of dollars and other favors ahead of upcoming elections.
Dan Leal, who also acts in his sex films as ‘Porno Dan,’ told a BosNewsLife reporter in Budapest that the government welcomed him with open arms. “I shook hands with Orbán.”
The 48-year-old porn king said that he arrived in Hungary in late 2016 while running from U.S. authorities amid legal and bureaucratic wrangling over taxes, condom use, and other troubles linked to the porn industry. “They even took my house in Los Angeles, California. Every day was a struggle,” he explained.
After investigating several options, he said he found Hungary’s government embracing his business. “In exchange for millions of dollars and promises to give jobs to Hungarians only, Orbán grants me protection,” Leal added in a Budapest bar without elaborating. “I even renovated a park in Budapest for them,” the producer said.
“And I could purchase the largest house in Pest,” he added referring to the lower area of the capital at the Danube river. Leal said he supports the re-election of the increasingly autocratic and far-right prime minister. He suggested his company would have people at voting booths during the Parliamentary elections on April 8 to ensure Hungarians would vote for Orbán who is seeking a third consecutive term in office.
BEING THANKFUL
Leal, wearing his trademark baseball cap and ‘Porno Dan’ t-shirt, has reasons to be thankful: Orbán and his allies granted him residence and working permits, he said. And Leal expects to receive Hungarian citizenship as early as next year. “I am learning the Hungarian language.”
Despite the apparent government protection, he claimed to carry a gun with him “at all times.” BosNewsLife did not confirm that independently in the often crowded bar.
The porn producer said more than a year after his move to Budapest his business is stronger than ever “with 90 percent less stress and hassle.”
His company, officially registered in Budapest as Immoral Production Kft., claims to broadcast out of a 15,000-square-foot studio and is strategically located near one of Europe’s largest talent agency with more than 250 actors and actresses. “I broadcast live two or three times a week with a mix of models and male talent including myself,” Leal said in separate remarks.
He noted that his Immoral Productions company footage and its Immoral Live streams on the internet have become popular with broadcast series such as “F..k A Fan” and our “Friday Night Fiestas.” Leal said his directing style won over fans, actors, and others in the porn industry. He was even nominated as Best Foreign Studio by adult news publisher XBIZ for their 2018 Awards show.
HUNGARIAN JOBS
Leal plans to employ up to 150 people. “They are all Hungarians. That’s part of the deal.” He stressed that he understood the fiercely anti-immigration leadership “wants Hungarians only” and no Muslims or people with other backgrounds.
“I am a Catholic, I understand,” he said referring to his younger years as an Altar Boy and several years teaching at a Catholic Church institution.
Leal, who has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, eventually turned to porn and became a household name after exposure in reality series. They included “The Right Hand,” which ran on the HBO Canada network, and the 2012 feature film “Danland” streamed by the Netflix service about his three-year quest to build his business and find true love. He later appeared in the short film “Love in Porn” which was selected to be in Cannes Film Festival Short Film Corner and other television series.
In a statement to BosNewsLife, the government claimed it didn’t know about Orbán’s alleged ties to Leal or his operations. “We are not aware of any such issue. Therefore, we cannot provide you with any information,” explained the International Communications Office of the prime minister. “Thank you for your inquiry.”
Leal’s activities and his efforts to make Budapest the porn-hub of Europe seem at odds with the conservative and Christian family values of Orbán’s Fidesz party and its tiny Christian Democratic ally KDNP. And other broadcasters and news media are facing strict control by Orbán and friends backed by strict media legislation. Fidesz-backed media even published a blacklist of journalists who they consider harming national interests, including the name of a BosNewsLife News Agency founder.
GRAFT ALLEGATIONS
The porn allegations also come as graft allegations have already shaken the government. Budapest’s respected Corruption Research Centre (CRC), a non-governmental group, estimates that four Fidesz linked businessmen, including a former pipe-fitter and the prime minister’s son-in-law, received at least nearly 2 billion euros ($2.5 billion) in contracts from 2010 through 2016.
Also, the European Union’s anti-fraud office OLAF reported severe “irregularities” in business practices of Orbán’s friends and family members. It investigated dozens of EU-funded schemes aimed at improving public lighting in Hungary carried out by a company co-owned by Orbán’s son-in-law. OLAF demands back payments on these works of more than 40 million euros ($49 million).
And, at least hundreds of millions of euros were given to a few other party-faithful, including millions to government commissioner Andy Vajna, a Hungarian-American who made some of his fortunes as a Hollywood producer of films including Rambo and Total Recall.
The FBI, the U.S. police agency, is also investigating a money laundering scheme linked to Orbán’s government that saw up to 4 billion euro ($4.9 billion) funneled out of the country. Separately, Hungary’s minister responsible for city development, Lajos Kósa, stands accused of involvement in a massive money-laundering scheme of roughly 4.3 billion euro ($5.3 billion).
Authorities have denied the allegations. In total Hungary wasted up to nearly 11 billion euro ($13.5 billion) on public procurement in 2009-2016, close to half of EU funds, according to CRC Budapest and BosNewsLife estimates. Several Western diplomats told BosNewsLife they are also concerned about “a crackdown” on independent media and the takeover of all regional papers by oligarchs linked to Orbán. “You never know with which Orbán you speak. Orbán has two faces, two messages,” diplomats said privately during several meetings attended by BosNewsLife.
Orbán has a tendency not to speak to most foreign media, but government spokespersons have consistently rejected moral wrongdoing.
(BosNewsLife News Agency is based in Budapest, Hungary. The story is part of its WORLD WATCH series of news stories and developments from especially former Communist nations impacting the Church and/or compassionate professionals).
f-ing sickos
Typical leftist smear campaign.