The new mayor added that “the capital's fiscal state is uncertain” but thanked Demszky for the smooth preparation of the transition.

Demszky said he would like to see Tarlos become “the mayor of all the people of Budapest, not just of those who voted for him”. He added that he would like to see the new leadership complete the investment projects already begun. Tarlos replied that he will do so “if the necessary funds are available”.

Tarlos said later in an interview with Nepszabadsag that he had learned on Tuesday that Budapest public transport company BKV has debts totalling Ft 500 billion.

Not everything will remain unchanged in City Hall and the Budapest city council but what was valuable in the capital, for instance culture, will be preserved, Tarlos underlined.

Tarlos said Prime Minister Viktor Orban has given him “a free hand” on how to run the capital.

A considerable number of dismissals will take place at City Hall before the end of the year. Members of the press office have been told to look for jobs, according to hirszerzo.hu.

The press department staff will be cut and city-owned companies will have two joint press departments: one for the utility companies and the other for public transport firms.

Opposition council members will be given seats on the supervisory boards of public utility companies. Losing Socialist candidate Csaba Horvath and former campaign chief Zsolt Molnar also visited Tarlos and his deputy Istvan Gyorgy.

Balazs Szeneczey is expected to be Tarlos's chief of staff, Magyar Hirlap reports. "

Source: Hungary Around the Clock.

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