Popular Budapest party district to be ‘cleaned up’ by the government

The Inner-Erzsébetváros region of the VII. district of Budapest, also known as the party district, is frequented by many tourists all year round. Recently, the Hungarian government has found that public safety is so poor on the popular party site that intervention on the part of authorities is now absolutely necessary.

The government announced in the Tuesday evening issue of the Hungarian Gazette (Magyar Közlöny) – the country’s official journal, which among other things publishes legislation and the prime minister’s instructions and announcements – that it must intervene in the operation of the party district of Budapest, index.hu reports.

According to the Gazette, “the Government has examined the public security situation in Inner-Erzsébetváros, and on the basis of this examination has concluded that the public security situation in Inner-Erzsébetváros, with particular attention to events held in and around the Gozsdu Courtyard in Budapest, District VII, requires government intervention.”

The government set out a twofold task: Minister of National Economy Márton Nagy has been tasked to “examine the possibility of establishing a new police station in the area of Inner-Erzsébetváros, District VII of Budapest.” In connection with this, Interior Minister Sándor Pintér must ensure that the police force needed to strengthen public security in the party district is adequate.

Both tasks must be completed by 15 June 2024. The decision is signed by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

The full issue of the Hungarian Gazette is available HERE, in Hungarian.

Politicians react to the new supervision of the party district

As highlighted by index.hu, the mayor of the district, Péter Niedermüller, has already called for more police officers in these high-traffic party areas.

Niedermüller pointed out that under the previous administration, there was virtually “no regulation of the so-called party district,” as decision-makers tried to avoid any backlash or scandal over possible tightening of rules. By contrast, Niedermüller believes his office has consciously taken on a new role, one that aims to rid the party district of the negative image that it often carries.

As for the announcement in the Hungarian Gazette, ATV quoted Niedermüller’s statement on the issue, who wrote that they have been urging similar steps to ensure the safety of the party district going back as far as 2019. He asserted that while “it is regrettable that we had to wait so long for these big realisations [on the part of the government], and the upcoming elections may have something to do with the sudden enlightenment”, they are still ready to cooperate with the government.

“On Tuesday morning, I asked the head of our municipal company responsible for property management to check whether we have any municipal properties in Inner-Erzsébetváros that might be suitable for this purpose. If there is, we will offer it to the police free of charge and even contribute to the maintenance costs,” Niedermüller wrote, adding that they will also offer service apartments to the police.

Dávid Vitézy, mayoral candidate for Budapest, also commented on the news. He wrote on his social media page,

“You can’t walk through the streets of the party district in Erzsébetváros in the evening without being repeatedly called down by drug dealers, honked at by hyena taxis, and stepping into urine puddles – this is surely untenable and unworthy of Budapest.”

He continued: “That is why I am glad that the government has decided to increase the police force in the area. It would have been better if the government had not only remembered to do this during the campaign season, and I hope that the police attention will continue after the elections.”

Read also:

• What about Budapest’s party district? New rules come into force – HERE
• Constructive – Is Budapest party district set to undergo robust changes? – Read HERE

Source: Index, ATV