Hungarian state to take over Budapest Airport by the beginning of 2022

Asked about the government’s move to reacquire Liszt Ferenc International Airport, prime minister’s chief of staff Gergely Gulyás said the purchase could be concluded by the beginning of next year. The developments that will follow the state’s takeover of the airport, such as the construction of a connecting high-speed railway, can only be financed from government resources, he added.

In response to a question, Gulyás said no cancer patients had their surgeries delayed because of the pandemic, noting that only screenings had to be suspended to reduce the risks of infection. On another subject, he said Hungary’s gas supplies were secure and gas prices would remain stable.

Orbán: Hungarian state could buy back Budapest airport ‘at any moment’

Meanwhile, Gulyás called it “surreal” that the European Parliament was preparing to sue the European Commission for its failure to implement the EU’s rule-of-law mechanism. “The EP has no grounds for a suit,” he insisted. Gulyás said that under an agreement, the EC cannot take legal action until the EU court issues a decision in the ongoing case concerning Poland.

Asked about a proposal submitted by the government on the chief public prosecutor’s appointment and removal from office, Gulyás said the bill aimed to clarify that

the chief prosecutor is elected with a two-thirds majority and can only be removed with the same majority.

As regards the migration pressure on Hungary’s southern border, he said that though the border fence provided the greatest protection, installing more border officers was also crucial when more than 300-400 migrants were attempting to enter the country illegally each day.

Asked about the Budapest municipal council offering property rights of the Biodome under construction in City Park to the Hungarian state in return for the government completing the project, Gulyás said

the government “expects the capital to finish its own project”.

Though the government has already allocated funding for the Biodome twice, “it’s not a joint project”, he added.

Meanwhile, he said the government had yet to decide on a request by Serbia to join the upgrade of the Paks nuclear power plant.

Read alsoState to finish Budapest’s Biodome in the City Park