Budapest public transport in danger? Transport company takes out huge loan

The Budapest assembly on Wednesday approved an agreement between Budapest public transport company BKK and K&H Bank, of a HUF 24 billion (EUR 63.9 million) loan, as part of the municipality’s “survival programme”.

The proposal, submitted by Deputy Mayor Ambrus Kiss, was carried with 17 votes in favour, 2 against and 9 abstentions.

The loan will ensure BKK’s operation between June and September, and will have to be paid back by September 18, the proposal said.

Budapest assembly adopts position on war

The Budapest assembly on Wednesday passed a position in connection with the war in Ukraine.

The proposal, submitted originally by the ruling Fidesz and the Christian Democrats before being amended with changes proposed by the left-wing parties, incorporates the European Council’s statement condemning “Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine”. It was passed with 17 votes in favour, 10 against and one abstention.

The original proposal was submitted by Zsolt Wintermantel, Fidesz’s group leader in the city assembly. The version approved on Wednesday included amendments submitted by the group leaders of the Democratic Coalition, the Socialist Party, Momentum and Párbeszéd.

Wintermantel told reporters after the vote that the municipal council’s left-wing majority led by Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony had rejected his party’s original pro-peace resolution, adding that the amendment proposals had turned the issue into a domestic political battle.