In her introductory speech, Krisztina Baranyi believed, among other things, that Budapest politics today is about Viktor Orbán and Ferenc Gyurcsány, but anything can be promised and developed only if the interdependent actors cooperate and strive for compromise.
András Grundtner explained that the capital, as a city-state, began to break away from the body of the nation, and in addition, there is a constant exchange of population and the constant settlement of foreigners.
In his introduction, Dávid Vitézy emphasized that he is not asking for a blank check, he submitted a job application to the people of Budapest, his program is his application, his future employers are the people of Budapest, Budapest is not a springboard for him, he does not want to be prime minister. The candidate of the LMP sees an opportunity, it may happen that Fidesz and DK together will not have a majority in the capital.
According to Gergely Karácsony, the last five years were perhaps the most difficult in the life of the city, because they were able to stay afloat because they formed a strong and mutually supportive team in the assembly with the opposition district mayors.
Tamás Soproni spoke about the fact that it doesn’t matter what the debate is about, there will be a few who might want to use this to strengthen their mayoral ambitions, but this is not a mayoral-candidate debate. They will debate about who should manage the city, who should be members of the mayor’s team. According to the politician of the moment, not even a shadow of corruption has fallen on them and he wants to talk about their results.
Transportation was the first topic
András Grundtner sees impassable roads, congestion, no-go routes in public transport, and the parking system, which represents hidden taxation. Mi Hazánk Mozgalom would renovate the entire road network within ten years, corruption-free and of adequate quality. They would eliminate all the traffic barriers that the city administration used, they would not close bridges, they would not eliminate overpasses, but they would eliminate bicycle lanes everywhere, where they intentionally obstruct car traffic. They agree that the number of vehicles should be reduced, but not with obstacles, but with the improvement of traffic culture and the diversion of agglomeration traffic. Measures aimed at maintaining law and order are supported on BKK flights.
Dávid Vitézy’s transport commitments: they would improve both fixed-track and non-fixed-track traffic from the outer districts and the agglomeration. They would fight with the government to start the heat and railway developments. They would also develop the electricity network, they have ready plans, for example the continuation of the braided network in Buda. Regarding road renovations, he thinks that it is necessary to change gears, at today’s pace, all the roads would be renovated in 166 years, according to him, this cannot continue. Regarding parking, he emphasized that there should be no district mini-kingdoms, and he would operate parking in a centralized, as digital as possible system.
According to Gergely Karácsony, the greening of traffic should also be derived from improving the quality of life. On the one hand, they completed the renovation of the triple metro, and launched the largest vehicle development program of the past decades with trolleys and buses. The tram network was also developed, several housing estates would be served by tram. They reduced the price of the Budapest season ticket, made it free for 14 years, and concluded a historic agreement, this is the tariff community. Gergely Karácsony emphasized that in a livable city you need to walk as well as cycle, zebra crossings have been created, and he is proud of the fact that the bicycle network has been expanded, Bubi is also proud of them.
Tamás Soproni thinks that the people of Budapest are simple commuters, they want to get from A to B cheaply and comfortably, and they provide several subsidies for this in their district. He does not consider it controversial that car traffic should be reduced, the most obvious solution for this is the development of public transport.
Krisztina Baranyi began by presenting a Greenpeace survey, which revealed that almost all carcinogenic chemicals exceed the limits several times in the vicinity of schools. The mayor of Ferencváros called the reduction of car traffic in the city center a health interest. He said that he would be the happiest if it were to be implemented.
Tamás Vitézy of Soproni poked at Dávid when he talked about how we are slowly getting there, he invented the explosive engine and the dynamo, but if something failed, for example the e-ticket system, he should wash his hands. The current mayor sees political arrogance as very bad.
Livability, housing, public safety
Dávid Vitézy thinks that BKK police should be created, this is not an anti-homeless but a passenger-friendly proposal, a new police unit that can go to the scene at the call of drivers and passengers. Regarding the development of public cleanliness, he said, among other things, that the removed bins would be reinstalled. Dávid Vitézy would build affordable apartments and rental apartments with the involvement of private capital, and he would renovate the rust zones as green residential districts.
Gergely Karácsony explained that there are two crises, one is the housing crisis and the other is the climate crisis. Budapest needs more green spaces, more energy-efficient homes and affordable rental apartments. The mayor said that no one had planted as many trees as they had, they created a new park, started the renovation of the city parks, broke up the concrete, and greened the city center as well. Gergely Karácsony said about housing that they are fighting against homelessness and not homeless people. Gergely Karácsony promised an unprecedented housing program for the next term, as well as a panel and condominium renovation program.
According to Tamás Soproni, the development of rental housing has never been so important, in Terézváros more than three hundred have been renovated and given to those in need.
Among other things, Krisztina Baranyi talked about how the city can subsidize housing for young people, as well as what can be done to force the government to build a student city.
András Grundtner said that the rent prices are shaped by market conditions, and the state can intervene if there is some distorting factor. They also see three such: short-term accommodation expenses, the housing demand of students of higher education institutions, and the construction of residential parks for investment purposes. They would not make Airbnb impossible, it is important for tourism development, but they would offer a simpler administration option. I would make the profitability between long-term subletting and short-term renting more proportionate. Newly opened higher education institutions could increase their number of students if they provided dormitories.
Dávid Vitézy asked Gergely Karácsony to respond to his proposal about the BKK police.
I know you are provoking me, I will respond to that as well
retorted the mayor, who then drew attention to the fact that the government side, to which Dávid Vitézy belonged all his life, took a lot of money from the capital, but most of the dismantled bins he mentioned had already been returned. According to András Grundtner, an adequate number of toilets and bins should be installed. Gergely Karácsony emphasized that Budapest has a debt in this, but a lot has already been repaid.
The relationship between the capital and the government
According to Gergely Karácsony, Budapest is a free and diverse city, but the government represents the opposite. He stated that they will not give up their principles, but only those who don’t want to can cooperate with him. He has several disputes with the ruling party, he represents the interests of the people of Budapest, the government its own, but there were times when we managed to cooperate, such as the agreement on the tariff community. Compromises were also made in relation to the World Athletics Championship and health development in Budapest.
We cannot take away the government’s money and powers, they can do that to us, we can only defend ourselves
Gergely Karácsony made it clear, adding: he will cooperate with anyone for the sake of Budapest.
Tamás Soproni also spoke about the taking away of revenues and powers, with which the government made the work of local governments more difficult. Their cooperation does not start from a good position, but as a responsible local government leader, he must sit at the negotiating table with the government.
We come with an outstretched hand, but if they knock that hand away and give us a good ol’ flame, then don’t expect us to go off to pee and come back to apologize
– said the Momentum politician.
Krisztina Baranyi believes that in recent years the government has done everything to make Budapest impossible, that it is the strongest bastion of the opposition, that Budapest is free and must remain free. The mayor of Ferencváros underlined that they failed to break Budapest, so now they are trying to change the electoral system, this can create a trap situation, the national goals of the political parties present in the assembly can determine their decisions, which can paralyze Budapest.
For András Grundtner, it is clear that the current city management must strive for a good relationship with the current government, and party politics must be left out of this, because it is in the interest of the population that a city can win various subsidies with adequate lobbying power from the government.
Efforts must be made to create harmony between the two parties, even if they hate each other
– pointed out the mayor candidate of Mi Hazánk.
Dávid Vitézy emphasized that he stands up for the interests of the people of Budapest against any government. Ideas such as maxi-Dubai are widely disagreed with. He would also do his best to promote heath development as health care improves. According to Dávid Vitézy, saying no to everything on the part of the capital’s leadership leads nowhere, Gergely Karácsony shared rude things about Viktor Orbán on his Facebook page, he also does not agree with the government on everything, but it is not okay for the mayor to engage in party politics.
Gergely Karácsony later spoke about how Dávid Vitézy had no idea what he had lived for 14 years, and now he is supported by a pseudo-opposition party, whose candidate he is because its co-chairman is a billionaire who finances his campaign. Dávid Vitézy retaliated by saying that the LMP supported Krisztina Baranyi and Tamás Soproni.
You had the opportunity to clarify your relationship with your past, but you missed it, this is a serious mistake on your part, clarify your relationship with these 14 years
Gergely Karácsony called on Dávid Vitézy. The candidate for mayor of the LMP made it clear, he always stood up when János Lázár withdrew funds and stopped investments.
Towards the end of the discussion, the leaders of the list could highlight a topic of their own choosing, rather than a predetermined one.
In this round, Tamás Soproni spoke about the fight against corruption, in which, according to him, the politicians of the moment are at the forefront. Krisztina Baranyi emphasized that it is very important for them to pay more attention to vulnerable social groups. András Grundtner dedicated the two minutes he had to public safety. He sees that crime prevention is lacking in law enforcement, so they would create the city police and introduce the public parking system.
Dávid Vitézy chose green Budapest as his topic, according to which different public policies must fight against the effects of climate change, and on the other hand, the city must be prepared to endure them. This would mean as many green surfaces as possible. The mayor-candidate also emphasized animal protection, an animal protection patrol service would be established. Finally, he highlighted the greening of transport policy, promising that there will be no fewer flights if he becomes mayor.
Gergely Karácsony singled out the health sector, stressing that he does not want and cannot live with the fact that Hungary ranks last in the prevention of preventable deaths. He is proud of the fact that in recent years the capital city government has developed outpatient care in partnership with the districts, and they would continue this policy.
Who should they vote for?
In his closing speech, Tamás Soproni listed several reasons why it is worth voting for Momentum: they believe in a free Budapest, they ensure equality of rights, they believe in work. The mayor stated that we don’t need empty promises, words, or symbolic politics, but work.
According to Krisztina Baranyi, the Hungarian Kétfarkú Kutya Párt believes that you cannot sell yourself for short-term benefits, instead you need long-term, persistent work with a cheerful attitude.
Dávid Vitézy thinks that Alexandra Szentkirályi did not take the election seriously because she did not even go to the debates, which is why she is the only possible challenger to Gergely Karácsony. The mayor-candidate expects that with the victory of Gergely Karácsony, everything would go back to normal, the mayor would only complain, collect likes, and focus on the 2026 elections, maybe he would be prime minister-candidate again, and nobody would care about the city.
According to András Grundtner, in the debate, they could listen to the evening’s tale from the liberal side about why the bad is good and the ugly is beautiful, in comparison the Mi Hazánk Movement wants to return the capital to the nation. They have a program with a complex, practical approach, which would solve everyday problems.
Gergely Karácsony explained in his closing speech that five difficult years are behind them, but with all its faults, Budapest is a better functioning city today than it was. He called Budapest a free and humane city, and they do not want to sacrifice their values in the future either. The mayor is full of plans, plans that can be financed from specific EU funds, he wants better healthcare, more public transport and more green spaces. Gergely Karácsony sees that Budapest does not ask for Fidesz or Fidesz disguised as green.
(Cover photo: Krisztina Baranyi, András Grundtner, Dávid Vitézy, Gergely Karácsony and Tamás Soproni. Photo: ATV)
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2024-06-03 09:04:24