Persányi appointed commissioner for Liget project landscaping

Budapest, August 9 (MTI) – Miklós Persányi, the head of Budapest Zoo, has been appointed ministerial commissioner in charge of the ongoing City Park (Liget) development project’s landscaping investments, the minister of human resources said on Tuesday.

Addressing celebrations on the 150th anniversary of the zoo, Zoltán Balog said the government and Budapest Mayor István Tarlós have agreed that the controversial Liget project needs a commissioner for coordinating landscaping and gardening investments independently.

“Persányi’s professional past is a guarantee that this work will be completed to the highest standard,” Balog said.

Persányi was member of three Socialist governments, he was the Minister of Environment and Water Management between 2003 and 2007.

A law passed by Hungarian parliament in 2013 declares the Liget project, which involves building a new museum complex in City Park next to Heroes’ Square, a priority state project. But environmentalists have been protesting for months against the project they fear would ruin the popular public park.

Source: MTI