DK demands investigation into central Budapest “property racket”

Budapest (MTI) – The leftist opposition Democratic Coalition has called for an investigation into contested property privatisation deals in Budapest’s central District 5, and filed a complaint with the public prosecutor’s office, DK board member Laszlo Varju told a press conference on Saturday.

Varju insisted that the district council had sold a property worth 127 million forints to Tamas Portik, a notorious criminal, for a mere 54.2 million at a time when Antal Rogan, group leader of the ruling Fidesz party, was district mayor.

Varju added that the council of the Inner City had sold over 200 properties well below value, and caused damage of a combined 4 billion forints to the district.

According to national daily Nepszabadsag, several buyers saved tens of millions of forints through first becoming tenants in the properties, then buying those estates offered at a preferential price after the first few months of their tenancy. Between 2008 and 2013, the district council sold off 277 shops without a public tender, the paper said.

In a statement, Rogan dismissed the “slander” and pledged to initiate legal proceedings against DK. He insisted that under his leadership all moves of the district council had been taken in line with effective regulations and denied any ties to Tamas Portik or his family members.

Photo: Daily News Hungary

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters