Investigative journalists claim Hungary’s government mandated sell-off of Budapest land could begin soon

Plans by the Hungarian government to sell valuable state-owned land around Budapest’s main railway stations have sparked sharp political debate, with critics accusing ministers of rushing through deals ahead of the upcoming elections.

Is the government having a sale in Budapest before the elections?

According to VSquare’s investigative reporting cited by journalist sources, the initiative is being coordinated by the Ministry of Construction and Transport led by János Lázár. The plans allegedly involve disposing of unused state properties surrounding the capital’s four major railway hubs — Keleti, Nyugati, Déli and Kelenföld — in an accelerated procedure.

The state railway company MÁV and the asset manager Magyar Nemzeti Vagyonkezelő Zrt. have reportedly been instructed to prepare tenders swiftly. Draft documentation is said to already be circulating internally. The properties in question include neglected plots, abandoned buildings and centrally located land that could be worth tens of billions of forints, potentially exceeding HUF 100 billion in total market value.

As Népszava writes, among the areas mentioned are the historic railway station building at Kelenföld and its surroundings, state land on both sides of Déli station, and large tracts near Podmaniczky Street by Nyugati. Critics note that several of these locations were once linked to ambitious long-term development plans that never materialised.

Have you heard? European Commission to hold extraordinary meeting after Hungary and Ukraine dispute.

Former Secretary of State for Transport claims he has reliable sources confirming this

Opposition voices have reacted strongly. Dávid Vitézy, former Former Secretary of State for Transport, currently a member of the Budapest assembly, described the reported move as “complete nonsense” and accused the government of conducting a “pre-election fire sale in panic.” He said several of his sources confirmed what the investigations claim. He also argued that such strategically important urban brownfield sites should only be developed through coordinated planning between the state and the capital, rather than quickly sold to private interests, as quoted by HVG.

Vitézy warned that rushed privatisation could lead to poorly planned high-density developments and the loss of public value. He also pointed out that renovation of Kelenföld’s historic station building was halted in 2022, raising concerns that a sale could ultimately lead to demolition. The politician said he will propose that the Budapest General Assembly formally reject any pre-election disposal of railway lands and empower the mayor to pursue legal action if necessary.