Will fireworks be banned in the city centre of Budapest?
Fireworks often give an extra touch to festivals and special events. Hungary’s two biggest events with impressive fireworks shows are the 20th of August celebration and New Year’s Eve. Due to some New Year’s Eve incidents, a proposal for government regulation on fireworks and firecrackers has been submitted.
New proposal
RTL has reported that according to a Facebook post by Alex Gábor Kovács, faction leader of Tiéd a Belváros, the faction is submitting a proposal to the next meeting of the 5th district’s body of representatives. Their main goal is to initiate the amendment of the government decree on fireworks and firecrackers. Kovács thinks that people are going too far and stricter regulations are needed. He wrote:
It would be important to have stricter rules on the purchase and use of pyrotechnic articles to avoid accidents.
Complaints
According to Kovács, they have received numerous complaints from residents about fireworks and firecrackers that have been going off in almost every part of the district. It is not surprising that people gather around in the city centre to welcome the new year together. However, the celebrations turned rather terrifying on Vörösmarty Square this time. Therefore, Kovács’s faction would initiate the following:
On New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, pyrotechnic devices that can disturb the peace should not be used! Municipalities should be able to regulate and ban the use of firecrackers and fireworks in their own administrative areas!
The faction has made an online petition on the matter. In addition, it is on the agenda for the next meeting of the 5th district’s body of representatives.
The terrifying Vörösmarty Square celebration
Terrifying footages recorded by RTL show that the New Year’s celebrations went a bit too far in the heart of Budapest, on Vörösmarty Square. Citizens had brought fireworks with them and shot them off in a cordoned-off section. This was not controlled by any authority. According to Hungarian law, fireworks may be used for civil purposes in public places without a licence. In the video, we can see that the fireworks ended up in the mass of people. Thus, many people have suffered injuries on the spot. A woman who was interviewed said that the back of her hand had been burnt by a firework which hit her. In addition, her coat caught on fire as well:
Another video from 2018 shows that the problem is not new:
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Sadly, they commenced approx 20.30pm, near our house Vorosmarty ter, District V.
They became more frequent & louder as we “neared” the new year.
Then the BUILDINGS Shook ///
They continued through to 2am, on the first morning of the new year, not frequently, but enough to un-settle you – your sleep if you had “retired” for the evening.
There is a HIGH degree of irresponsibility displayed by numbers of the Fire Cracker brigade, which of course is of all age groups and of both sexes.
The last (5) five years it has worsened that the POLICEING of it, by police and District employed officers, appear to just let it ALL Happen, stand in groups and enjoy the Show.
Safety aspect, with vast numbers of aged buildings in our District, the vulnerability of numerous roofing constructions, that still alive fire crackers in landing on roof tops or other, could be a PROBLEM.
The volume of them GROWS yearly and a “re-think” mainly from the Safety aspect NEEDS attention, and time they are allowed to be sent skywards.
We certainly don’t want a “smouldering” that built fire reminiscent of the Notre Dame Cathedral inside roof Disaster.
Respect for others those of us that live in the area we do, it’s Disappeared.
Police enforced Power and intervention, and Council Officers, must be of greater intensity than occupying positions likened to they are just “other” numbers in the crowd.