The government looks upon the capital’s new leadership as a partner, Gergely Gulyás, the Minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office said at a press conference held jointly with Mayor of Budapest Gergely Karácsony.

The Mayor of Budapest – who attended the Wednesday cabinet meeting at the invitation of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán – took the view that it will be much easier to come to agreements with the government on technical issues than on issues concerning national politics.

According to Mr Gulyás’s information, at the cabinet meeting the parties agreed to continue to use also in the future the “channels” which they relied upon during the term of former Mayor of Budapest István Tarlós, he said in reference to the Council for Public Developments.

By the Minister’s account, Mr Karácsony made it clear which most important ongoing projects he supports and which ones he does not. Among the former, Mr Gulyás mentioned the completion of the Bozsik Stadium for Budapest Honvéd Football Club. Mr Karácsony also supports the construction of a handball multi-stadium; however, regarding the construction of an athletics stadium, the Mayor of Budapest will only be able to state his position after the meeting of the Metropolitan General Assembly due to be held at the end of November, the Minister told the press.

Regarding health care developments, he said while they fall within the competence of the metropolitan districts, the government “acknowledges” that the metropolitan mayor “wishes to play an active role” in these issues as well.

The government does not wish to implement developments without the support of the Mayor of Budapest and the leaders of the districts, he stated.

The Minister expressed hope that they will be able to maintain “a constructive approach that indeed concentrates on the development of Budapest” – and one that characterised Wednesday’s talks – with the capital’s new leadership in the future as well.

Mr Karácsony said it is a joint goal of all parties concerned that the capital should be able to develop in coming years. According to his information, they also spoke about the convening of the metropolitan council for public developments some time at the end of November or beginning of December where they will review the projects that are a priority for the capital.

He also raised the idea of summing up the complex issues of the dual administration of the government and the capital in “a Budapest law”. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán ruled this out, he added.

The Mayor of Budapest stressed that he would like relations between the capital and the government to be “institutional” and “full of content”. At the government meeting, he informed members of the cabinet about the decisions adopted at the Tuesday initial meeting of the Metropolitan General Assembly, including those related to the Liget Project. He repeated that the promises he made during the campaign compel him to also represent issues that are important for individual districts.

Regarding the construction of an athletics stadium on Csepel Island and the organisation of a world athletics championship, Mr Karácsony said he asked the government to give the metropolitan municipality some time to inform itself in more detail about the projects in question, and to wait until the meeting of the General Assembly to be held at the end of November.

The Mayor of Budapest described health care, green areas and public transport as the three most important pillars of his programme. “It is for the implementation of this programme that I am seeking allies,” he stressed, adding that “we will have differences (…), but I believe there is a realistic chance that we will gain the support of the government as an ally with the implementation of this programme”.

In the context of the Liget Project, he said at the cabinet meeting “there was full agreement” that they should make progress together in the reorganisation of public transport and developments in the City Park (Városliget).

In answer to questions, Mr Karácsony said, in his view, it would be reasonable to conduct a professional debate about the selection of the location of the Újbuda super hospital. One question is, for instance, whether due to the area’s public transport links this is indeed the most ideal location for such an institution.

Regarding the athletics stadium, he said “by default, we do not support the project,” but given its significance, “it is important to consider all the circumstances”. This is why he asked the Prime Minister to give the metropolitan municipality some time so that it can make a well-founded decision on the matter.

Mr Karácsony said the General Assembly’s position regarding the athletics stadium “will depend” on the consensus they will be able to reach with the government regarding other projects that are important for the capital. The metropolitan municipality is open to all cooperation, provided that the projects that are important for the capital are implemented, he observed.

Regarding the financing of public transport, he indicated at the cabinet meeting that they should follow the standard international funding percentages, meaning that the government should make a one-third contribution to its funding. “I conclude from the number of eyebrows raised at the mention of this that I have yet to convince the government of this,” he said.

In connection with the number of deputy mayors elected by the metropolitan municipality, Mr Karácsony said he does not believe that the five deputy mayors’ pay would upset the metropolitan budget. He promised that they would operate the Mayor’s Office with a smaller staff, and more effectively.

Regarding the pay demands of the employees of the Budapest transport company BKV, he said they will probably not be able to grant a 15 per cent pay rise, but they will seek to reach a good compromise with the workers.

Mr Karácsony said there will also be government-party district mayors among members of the Council for Public Developments delegated by the metropolitan municipality.

In answer to a question concerning the establishment of a standardised metropolitan parking system, he said the metropolitan municipality will have to consult with the districts regarding this matter. In his view, it is possible to create a standard and more cost-efficient regulatory framework.

In answer to further questions, Mr Gulyás said also to date the government has helped with the operation of Budapest’s public transport. The Prime Minister made it clear that the government will continue to honour its undertakings regarding the capital, he said.

He pointed out that the government assumed a debt of HUF 217 billion from Budapest whilst István Tarlós served as Mayor of Budapest, and this is what makes it possible for Budapest “to maintain its solvency and to operate without major debts”.

He responded to the news of Mayor of Győr Zsolt Borkai’s resignation with a single exclamation: ‘Eureka’.

(Prime Minister's Office/MTI)