Budapest city assembly setting up committee to probe corruption

The Budapest city assembly is setting up a committee to investigate suspected cases of corruption in recent years.

The Socialist Party, Democratic Coalition, Párbeszéd and Momentum have advanced the initiative with the support of Gergely Karácsony, the city’s mayor. The national ruling Fidesz party (which is in opposition in the metropolitan council) is also delegating members to the committee, Deputy Mayor Gábor Kerpel-Fronius (Momentum) told a press conference on Wednesday.

The press and corruption researchers have uncovered a multitude of suspected cases in Budapest, and it is important to follow these up, he said, adding criminal charges could be potentially raised.

Suspected cases include a public tender for pest control in 2018, the city zoo’s biodome, the city’s parking operations in the past 15 years, the Rác Baths renovation and construction, the renovation of Metro 3, the construction of Metro 4, the development of an e-ticket system for public transport and the so-called “Whale” building development by the Danube.