Budapest mayor and prime minister discuss financing and parking reforms, sparking district mayor backlash

Prime Minister Magyar Péter, accompanied by Transport Minister Vitézy Dávid, held talks with Budapest’s mayor Karácsony Gergely to discuss a range of measures aimed at stabilising the city’s finances. The agenda included a one-off state grant, a reduction of the next year’s solidarity contribution and a restructuring of the public transport funding model. A major point of contention was the plan to centralise the parking system under city control, which district mayors say was decided without their input.

Ferencváros mayor Baranyi Krisztina warned that the previous unified parking operator, Centrum Kft., was involved in corruption scandals. In response, Józsefváros mayor Pikó András said his district will pause its participation in the Budapest Municipalities Association and is considering leaving it altogether.