Karacsony: Budapest to turn to top court over central squares ‘taken away’ from city

Karacsony reacted to parliament approving in its final vote on the 2023 central budget bill a provision which transfers the management, maintenance and development rights of downtown Podmaniczky Frigyes Square, Vorosmarty Square and Szechenyi Istvan Square to the fifth district local council.

The finance ministry, the justice ministry and the interior ministry had “expressed grave constitutional concerns about the proposal to no avail”, the mayor said on Facebook. Karacsony said the city council will appeal to the top court against the decision which he said reflected “the full neglect of a self-government’s autonomy”. The municipality will also file a lawsuit for compensation it is entitled to receive for the ownership change under Hungary’s Fundamental Law, he said.