Mayor Karácsony calls for a new wave of city unification to protect Budapest’s future
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Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony said in a New Year’s message on Wednesday that a new city unification must be started to strengthen communities and local ties.
He said that on this day 75 years ago, Greater Budapest had been created by merging Újpest, Csepel, Kispest, Budafok, Pestszenterzsébet, Pestszentlőrinc, Rákospalota, and 16 suburban settlements into one city.
He added that unification was the basis of Budapest’s entire later history, with the merging of Óbuda, Buda, Pest and later 23 additional settlements. “City unification is not a finished past but a continuous present,” he said.
“The culture and style of political debate is at present at an all-time low, and it is Budapest’s job to present an example that went against this,” Karácsony said.
He added that new political players were part of the majority in the new municipal general assembly that was formed in 2024. “Many people thought, suggested and some even threatened that it would not work. But they were wrong. The city has a budget, we have made a large number of important decisions, and we have stood up for Budapest’s self-governance,” he said.
Karácsony cited problems and tasks linked to climate change, housing, air pollution, environmental pollution, and division built on populism. “All of which gives us obligations because we must not leave it to our children to solve the issues that affect our planet, our environment and our cities during our lifetime”, he said.
The last 10 years have been interesting – once you get past the beautiy of budapest – you realize almost all is from over 100 years ago. There seems to be a lack of understanding what it takes to be a modern city and to keep it beautiful and a geeat blace to live.