Zsolt Molnár told a press conference from the lakeside resort of Berhida that he had asked mayors around Balaton why they charged bathers to use the lake, and they had referred to maintenance costs, wages, and other expenses.

Molnár, the party’s director, said Berhida was “a good example of a municipality offering a well-kept lakeside park for people to use free of charge”.

He said he believed that the lake “could be returned to the Hungarian people” and that other mayors would take a leaf out of the Berhida administration’s book. Molnár also proposed central budget compensation for municipalities which abolish beach fees.

MTI Photo: Balázs Mohai