She recalled that after the 2019 local elections Prime Minister Viktor Orbán promised that the “the government of Hungary does not intend to carry out investment projects in Budapest that are not wanted by the responsible leaders of the capital city.”

Accordingly, the Council of Budapest Public Development Projects was set up, said Baranyi, where the cabinet and the city can reach joint decisions on major investment projects planned by the cabinet.

The Student City and hosting the World Athletics championships had broad support in the Council, but, she added, “not only was there no joint decision on the planned campus of the Chinese Fudan university, but an inter-state agreement, the details of the plans, the location, the financing structure, everything, were kept secret from us”.

The mayor added that more than half of the 13-hectare area where the campus would be built is owned by the district, and the city council also owns some properties.

“Let a referendum decide on whether we shall transfer the properties of Ferencváros to a private university whose costs will be paid for by our grandchildren”, she declared.

A cabinet resolution published on Friday removed the project from state secretary for Budapest developments Balázs Fürjes.

The previously announced Student City project and Fudan university matters have been transferred to Innovation and Technology Minister László Palkovics.