“I am proud that many foreigners have chosen to live in Budapest” – exclusive interview with Gergely Karácsony, Lord Mayor of the Hungarian capital
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One of the biggest surprises of the 2019 local elections was that Gergely Karácsony, the joint candidate of the Hungarian opposition parties, became the Lord Mayor of Budapest, our favourite city. Most of our readers are foreigners living in Budapest, foreigners who have already been in Budapest, and foreigners who plan to travel to Budapest. Last year was difficult not only because of the coronavirus epidemic but also because of the conflict with the government. Daily News Hungary asked the Lord Mayor about the successes and failures of the previous year, and we could get answers on some personal questions, as well as the Lord Mayor’s standpoint on the Airbnb issue.
- Let us start with a typical question: what are the three issues you are the proudest of from the past year?
I think the agreement we signed with the government about developing the healthcare system of Budapest is very important. Thanks to that, there are no waiting lists for CT and MRI diagnostics in the case somebody is suspected to have cancer. More and more people are adopting the idea of
creating a green and sustainable city.
Furthermore, the number of those commuting with bicycles rose significantly after we created new lanes and started to organise the already existing segments into a coherent system.
I also think that involving all citizens of the capital, civil organisations, and local communities in the decision-making process is another important step forward. Thanks to that, we could preserve more green areas in the Tabán, and we could reach a compromise in the case of the traffic on the Grand Boulevard.
- Besides the successes, there were probably setbacks as well. What were the biggest ones and what were the lessons?
Because of the coronavirus epidemic, we had trash plans, and due to the economic crisis, it meant we had to postpone a lot of development projects. Furthermore, the government chose not to help but to take away further financial resources from the capital.
I am very sorry that I could not make the government understand that their cooperation with the local governments had no alternative.
If we do not fight side by side, there can only be losers.
- What gigantic projects affecting tourists and tourism were inaugurated in the past one year?
Nobody can complete such projects in only one year, especially if we spend most of it fighting against the greatest epidemic of the last 100 years, and we still cannot see the end of that struggle. However, there are important developments we can inaugurate in the next couple of years. Even though it started to be a money consuming project, we could correct it and will finish the city zoo’s biodome which, together with the zoo, will be an attractive target for all tourists visiting the capital. We might finish that project before 2024 together with the building of the new Gellért Hill funicular which can help us get rid of the buses polluting the area. Meanwhile,
tourists can enjoy one of the most excellent views of our capital while they travel to the top of the hill.
I think that the renovation of the M3 metro line is also important. We will inaugurate its southern segment on October 22. Afterwards, we will start to renew the downtown section of the line, and soon we will be able to start the renovation of the Chain Bridge, one of the iconic symbols of our city.
- Airbnb revolutionised tourism and offered perfect opportunities for a lot of people planning to travel abroad since they could rent an apartment or a room much cheaper than in a hotel. Thanks to that, not only the wealthy but also the poor could travel. However, many metropolises already banned it while in Hungary, the Parliament allowed local governments to decide. What is your standpoint on the issue?
I agree that it is good if somebody can travel for less money, but I remember that before the outbreak of the epidemic, an Airbnb flat was more expensive than a hotel room. However,
what tourists see as a good opportunity is a difficulty for locals.
Airbnb flats significantly reduced offer on the long-term real estate rental market, causing a great increase in prices. Now, tourism broke down because of the virus and Airbnb flats are back in the rental market, so prices decreased. As the Lord Mayor of Budapest, I have to cope with the effects of the housing crisis. For example, there are many young people whose parents cannot buy a flat and they cannot pay rental prices because their salaries are not enough.
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It would be better to return to a sharing economy during which we share the spare capacities of our homes instead of running a hotel in the grey zone. It harms more people, and only a few benefit from it.
- The party district of Budapest attracts many Hungarians and foreign tourists alike but disturbs the everyday life of the locals. How can this problem be solved?
Tourism, which hopefully returns to Budapest next year, is important for Budapest, and its lack causes significant problems for our budget. However, locals entrusted me to represent their interests, just like Péter Niedermüller, the mayor of District 7, where the party district is. The downtown of the city became almost unlivable because of the pollution, the traffic, and the “bachelor party tourism” built on the low cost of alcohol in Hungary. District 7 started to
Gergely Karacsony – Lord Mayor of Budapest, does impress me.
We are permanent residents, living in District V of Budapest.
The citizens have “warmed our hearts” in their acceptance of us, and we have no regrets, after an intricate deep investigatory process of examination, to re-locate from our country of birth, the “land down under”, to make and call Hungary, our home.
History proves to us, the core strength of a country, its existence and
meaning, its ability to handle all the challenges they they face, is very much dependent on the strength and unity of its Communities.
What a time in the History of Hungary, that we build on, grow and develop broader and wider, the word Community.
Gergely Karacsony – is unequivocally correct, in his opinion :
“we have to show how we would build a fairer, more livable and trustworthy country, where not the people of power but the power of the people
Govern”.
Humans, we are the Masters of our Fate, but never forgetting, that we to are the Captain of our Souls.
Imperative, the provision and openness that must be built on, that permits the Voice of people be expressed, listened to and heard.
Communities – we can grow them to ensure the core of them represents and reflects the needs and wants of the people – who are these Communities.
We wait patiently, as a Country in our Communities, together, remaining United, for the discovery of a vaccine, that will immunize human beings from contacting this deadly novel virus.
Stay Safe & Well – ALL.
God bless Gergely Karacsony, Budapest Mayor and next Prime Minister of liberated Hungary.