Mayor of Budapest Gábor Demszky threatened a libel action last week after two former employees of the firm responsible for maintaining Budapest’s public areas, FKF, said he had used the company to renovate properties owned by his family.
The accusations – the identities of the accusers were hidden – were aired on the pro-Fidesz television news channel HírTV’s Célpont (Target) programme last Wednesday. Demszky issued a statement in which he said that he had asked the advice over renovation work at a flat 12 years ago, of a colleague who worked for the council-owned firm, and who recommended a number of tradesman. “The workers were paid out of my own pocket,” Demszky said. The liberal Free Democrat mayor denied the claims and said he is considering legal action.
