Budapest hell and high water - Conference on the political situation of the capital
On December 9, 2024, the conference "Budapest between two fires" took place, where the participants discussed the current situation and challenges of the capital assembly. At the event, politicians, experts and public figures shared their opinions on the difficulties facing the city administration. The focus of the event was the financial impossibility of Budapest and the possibilities of compromise between the political parties.
Opening speech: Gábor Horn (Chairman of the Republikon Foundation's board of trustees)
In his opening speech, Gábor Horn emphasized that the capital is in a unique political situation, since no political bloc has a majority in the assembly. He emphasized that this situation can create an opportunity for constructive cooperation, but it can hinder the city's operation if party political interests come to the fore.
Assessment of the situation by Gergely Karácsony (Mayor of Budapest)
Gergely Karácsony highlighted that the division between the government and the Tisza faction also affects the functioning of the assembly. In his opinion, decision-making in the capital often takes place in the shadow of national political games, which makes it difficult to implement the city's long-term strategies.
Panel discussion participants:
• Krisztina Baranyi, representative of the MKKP factiopn in the Budapest Assembly
• Sándor Szaniszló, leader of the DK faction in the Budapest Assembly
• Richárd Barabás, leader of the Párbeszéd faction in the Budapest Assembly
• Csaba Fűzfa, policy expert at Republikon Institute
Reactions to the mayor's assessment of the state of the assembly
Krisztina Baranyi agreed with the mayor's assessment that the assembly has become a battleground for the Fidesz and Tisza factions, but she sees the situation even more pessimistically. According to him, party political competition causes serious damage to the city, especially during the current withdrawal of funds. Sándor Szaniszló, on the other hand, is less pessimistic, as he believes that the general assembly is still functional, even despite the absence of the SZMSZ. His main concern is the withdrawal of the HUF 89 billion solidarity fund, as well as the obstruction of EU funds. He emphasized that the mayor's powers in themselves provide some stability. Richárd Barabás shared the mayor's opinion on the political games of the assembly and emphasized that the dissolution of the body would only serve campaign technical purposes. According to him, the city administration would be able to function without deputy mayors, although the attitude of the Tisza faction and the uncertainty regarding the upcoming elections may be worrying.
Is it realistic to dissolve the general assembly or to call new elections?
According to Krisztina Baranyi, it is in Fidesz's interest to show the capital assembly as an example of political incompetence. She believes that the current conditions only further strengthen the sense of chaos and dysfunction, which Fidesz would exploit to criticize the opposition leadership. Sándor Szaniszló drew attention to the fact that a 4/5 majority would be needed to dissolve the assembly, which is currently not is available. According to him, the goal of the Tisza faction is not to lead Budapest, but to shape national politics. Richárd Barabás believed that if Fidesz decided to dissolve the assembly, a united front would form against them, which would not be in the party's long-term interest. New elections would only further complicate the situation.
Financial challenges and the priorities of the general assembly
According to Krisztina Baranyi, the city's current financial situation makes policy discussions impossible, as maintaining basic operations is also a challenge. She emphasized that in order to survive, the city must define priorities such as preserving the unity of the general assembly and ensuring financial stability. Sándor Szaniszló believes that obtaining EU funds and implementing key infrastructure projects, such as road renovations, are essential. He drew attention to the fact that the districts are already taking over the tasks of the capital, which is unsustainable in the long term. According to Richárd Barabás, road renovations and the development of public transport are of particular importance. Although an Olympics in Budapest would ideally be positive, due to the current financial situation and the lack of plans, this is not a realistic possibility.
Priorities for the next five years
Krisztina Baranyi believes that keeping the assembly together and maintaining its functionality is the most important task, at least until the 2026 elections. According to Sándor Szaniszló, preserving the freedom of Budapest, supporting the outer districts and developing the infrastructure should be the priority. Barabás Richárd emphasized that the road renovations, the development of public transport and the complete modernization of the grand circuit is crucial for the future of the city.
Final thoughts
The conference participants agreed that Budapest faces significant challenges, especially due to limited financial resources. They emphasized that the assembly must prioritize the preservation of the city's basic functionality, while also responding to the needs of local communities and long-term developments. The event was closed in the spirit of constructive dialogue and the search for solutions.
