BKV bus rental contract above-board, says Budapest Mayor Karácsony

The Budapest transport company BKV is not signing a bus rental contract with a company of dubious background, Budapest Mayor Gábor Karácsony said on Wednesday, referring to allegations made by Fidesz politicians.

Karácsony said audits showed that public procurements had been carried out in line with the relevant regulations, and the best offer was selected in an open procedure, he said.

Under a law brought in by the Fidesz government, no applicant can be excluded due to an offshore background, he said, adding, however that he had instructed metropolitan companies to exclude any offshore company from public procurements. “It is right that BKV will not sign a contract with any such company.”

“What’s even more important is that all members of my team must be incorruptible and spotless,” he added.

Karacsony said he couldn’t judge the relationship between Deputy Mayor Kata Tüttő and the father of her children.

“But I know that she has never represented … any interest other than her city’s and those of the people of Budapest,” he said, adding that Tutto was among Budapest’s most upstanding public servants.

The head of Fidesz’s group in the Budapest assembly earlier called on Karácsony to launch an investigation into transport company BKV’s bus leasing arrangements.

Zsolt Láng accused BKV of planning to rent buses from an offshore company with a single employee registered just a week before the tender was announced. Tamás Leisztinger, the former partner of Tüttő, headed the company, he added.

He called on Karácsony to take swift action, “because if the leadership of the capital goes off in this direction … the consequences would be very serious.” The company does not have any buses, Láng said, adding that with its offshore background, it would not qualify for a public procurement tender in Hungary. Láng added that his side was considering taking legal action.

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