Budapest mayor: After Orbán’s fall, Hungary can become a ‘normal European country’

Hungary’s opposition stronghold mayor Gergely Karácsony says former prime minister Viktor Orbán’s illiberal system has not merely lost power but collapsed, as the incoming government of the Tisza party promises to restore democratic norms after 16 years of Orbán rule. In an interview in Bratislava, Karácsony praised prime minister Péter Magyar’s cabinet picks, said Budapest had helped to preserve democratic resistance during the Orbán era, and warned that Europe still lacked answers to the socia

In the interview we discussed, among other things: How he will be able to work together with his former challenger Dávid Vitézy, who has become a Tisza minister; What might happen to the luxurious government buildings in the Castle District; How the Hungarian political map might be transformed; On 9 May, the new Hungarian parliament was formed, and the new Hungarian government has already been sworn in. How are you experiencing these changes? It is a great joy to follow, for example, the hearings of the ministers in the parliamentary committees, where statements that have been among the capital’s public policy proposals for six years now are echoed back. After 16 years of [Orbán’s party] Fidesz government, it is almost inconceivable that we can be a normal country. Looking only from Budapest’s perspective, the new minister for local government says there must be a Budapest Act, disputed issues must be settled, and Budapest cannot be an enemy. The environment minister sets out the ecological requirements that I consider very important. The transport and development minister talks about dismantling advertising overload. This is inspiring even if I know the country is in a very difficult budgetary situation. The arrival of EU funds is of course an enormous opportunity for development. Recently there was a minor conflict between you and Magyar over the timing of the regime‑change parties [Magyar objected that Karácsony had scheduled a ‘regime‑closing’ concert for 8 May, the day before the inaugural parliamentary session on 9 May, but in the end the parties reached an agreement]. What does it tell us that such a dispute has already arisen? We settled this issue and I hope it doesn’t signal anything.

Key points

• In the interview we discussed, among other things: How he will be able to work together with his former challenger Dávid Vitézy, who has become a Tisza minister; What might happen to the luxurious…
• How are you experiencing these changes?
• It is a great joy to follow, for example, the hearings of the ministers in the parliamentary committees, where statements that have been among the capital’s public policy proposals for six years no…
• After 16 years of [Orbán’s party] Fidesz government, it is almost inconceivable that we can be a normal country.
• Looking only from Budapest’s perspective, the new minister for local government says there must be a Budapest Act, disputed issues must be settled, and Budapest cannot be an enemy.