Óbuda Mayor appeals to Prime Minister over Budapest-government deal

László Kiss, the mayor of Óbuda-Békásmegyer, has issued an open letter to Prime Minister Péter Magyar regarding a recent agreement between the Budapest Municipality and the government. The deal involves a one-time 120 billion forint subsidy for the capital in exchange for withdrawing legal challenges related to solidarity contributions.

Key components of the agreement include a 20 billion forint reduction in operating expenses by 2027, a 50/50 financing split for public transport, the establishment of a unified parking system, and the appointment of a budget supervisor.

Mayor Kiss criticized the lack of communication, stating that district leaders were not informed of the agreement's details and only learned of them through the press. He expressed concerns regarding the impact on district autonomy and revenues, specifically questioning how the capital would manage parking lot maintenance and green space upkeep. He has called for the Prime Minister to involve district representatives in developing the specific regulations to ensure district interests and parking discounts are protected.