The amendment submitted by János Lázár, the construction and transport minister, was passed by the deputies of allied ruling Fidesz and Christian Democrats in mid-June, Keresztes noted in a video post on Facebook.

“Lázár is seeking to put 47 protected stately homes with adjoining buildings, riding halls and parks into the private hands of companies and various private individuals under his own decision as early as August,” he said, adding that the list of properties included the Nádasdy Castle of Sárvár, the Festecsics Mansion of Dég and the Bishop’s Palace of Sümeg.

“Those who want to execute such a plan are abusing their power and robbing the nation,” he said.

The LMP politician called it “utterly unacceptable” that various companies or private individuals should become the owners of protected buildings of historic significance which are currently owned by the Hungarian people and the Hungarian state.

Lazar: Around 40 more castles to be put up for privatisation in Jan

The government will put around 40 more castles up for privatisation in January, Construction and Transportation Minister Janos Lazar said in Bekescsaba, in south-eastern Hungary, on Friday.

Local councils applying for the privatisation scheme will have to compete with well-capitalised companies like oil and gas company MOL, OTP Bank, pharmaceutical company Gedeon Richter, Magyar Bankholding and ICT group 4iG, Lazar said.

The minister said the upkeep of castles "tends to be the hobby of the richer localities" because of how much it costs, adding that the state had also made attempts to save Hungary's castles, but it was necessary to involve private capital.

He said the Wenckheim Palace in Szabadkigyos, in the southeast, still needed 7.7 billion to 8.6 billion forints (EUR 19.1m-21.3m) worth of renovations. "A well-capitalised partner is needed that can invest in both its renovation and upkeep," he said, adding that this would cost around 8-10 billion forints over the next ten years.

Lazar said there was a level playing field for all bidders for the Wenckheim Palace. He pointed out that the bidding companies also considered the preservation of historical monuments a part of their corporate social responsibility.

Source: 
MTI - The Hungarian News Agency, founded in 1881.​​​​​​​

From Hungary Around the Clock: Fee Set at HUF10 Million to Adopt a Castle

Construction and Transport Minister János Lázár would charge a fee of Ft 10 million to gain access to documents in the much-discussed castle adoption programme, according to a draft executive decree.

In exchange for the Ft 10 million, interested parties would only receive the documentation related to the allocation request, and the Ft 10 million would remain with the state even if the applicant does not ultimately obtain use of a castle.

The Ft 10 million charge appears in a draft executive decree related to the revised "castle law" approved in June.

Lázár’s initial proposal was criticised for permitting private ownership of state-owned castles, palaces and stately homes, under certain circumstances.

It has been amended following a Constitutional Court ruling and objections from then-president Katalin Novák.

The updated law, with 26 points of the original text having been rewritten, requires new owners of such properties to renovate, maintain, and operate them and stipulates that public collections must be accessible for at least 300 days a year.

The draft executive order, recently posted for public consultation, specifies that only full ownership transfers are allowed, with property management companies no longer an option.

The decree also outlines stricter requirements and oversight for property maintenance and public access.

The decree lists 47 properties eligible for the scheme, such as castles in Szabadkígyós, Edelény, and Füzérradvány.

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