Gergely Karácsony and Richárd Barabás, spokesman for opposition Párbeszéd and deputy mayor of Budapest’s 11th district, assessed the achievements and outlined tasks for the next two years at a joint event on Margaret Island, marking the end of Karácsony’s third year in office.

By the end of 2022, some 164 billion forints (EUR 510m) had been “taken out of the capital’s pockets” as a result of various government decisions, he said.

Additionally, the city’s officials had to cope with the economic crisis, the coronavirus pandemic and the energy crisis, he said. Karácsony said that in the spirit of “open governance”, his administration had engaged in social debates over the last three years on issues like the uses for public spaces.

The mayor said he did not care about re-election but wanted to change the city when it came to things like how people view public spaces.

He also said he was encouraged by the fact that in the public budget, Budapest residents had voted in favour of more social policies and green areas in the city.

He emphasised the importance of public transport developments which involved the goal of procuring more comfortable and more energy-efficient vehicles.

The mayor said that despite the measures aimed at making the city greener, he was not satisfied.

He said he hoped there would be a period when there would be “fewer burdens” and more could be done for a “free and green” Budapest.

Karácsony expressed his belief that green policies should represent both those who are “worried about the world” and those who are “worried about the end of the month”.

“This is the direction to go in even in a wartime crisis,” he added. The city must remain a community characterised by solidarity in order to overcome the difficulties, Karácsony said.

Efforts are being made to make Budapest climate neutral and carbon neutral by 2030, he said.

“If we survive 2023, then we’ll win 2024 and Budapest can become a green city of solidarity, where walking on grass is allowed,” he added. Ruling Fidesz in response said Budapest had only been “backsliding” with its affairs over the past three years.

“Public transport is chaotic, the city is becoming dirtier day by day and it is becoming filled with slums,” the party’s Budapest chapter said in a statement, adding that Budapest needs “responsible and competent leaders”.