Magyar said in a Facebook post that his party had recently pledged to prevent the government's "corrupt mega-project" from going ahead, and "Fidesz criminals have already backed down: they have been forced to let go of plans for a money pump bigger than ever."

The Tisza leader said the prospective UAE investors had intimated their intention to abandon the project due to social protest in Hungary.

Magyar said that Tisza, if it forms Hungary's next government, would use legal and political means to prevent the robbery of "major traffic hubs and the national heritage".

Magyar called on Prime Minister Viktor Orban to "stop distributing the nation's assets". "The homeland is not for sale at any price," he added.

Karacsony: 'Budapest has won, city's interests overrode real estate racket' (adds Szentkiralyi)

"The government has finally backed down, on Thursday they acknowledged what they should have done years ago: Budapest's interests have prevailed instead of 'mini-Dubai'," Budapest mayor Gergely Karacsony said on Thursday, responding to an announcement made by the head of the prime Minister's Office at a regular press briefing.

The mayor said "we will exercise our pre-emption rights, Budapest will take on all duties that the Arab billionaire undertook in the sale and purchase agreement."

"Meanwhile, we will increase the city's wealth and revenues, and we will build in Rakosrendezo what serves the city's future, all in an open, transparent manner, with the involvement of the residents of Budapest," he added.

Head of the Prime Minister's Office Gergely Gulyas announced at a regular press conference that the government acknowledged the pre-emption rights of Budapest Kozmuvek Nonprofit (BKM) over the brownfield area in Rakosrendezo.

He said the City Hall, and BKM, will be mandated to pay the price for the area under the terms and conditions of the agreement. It will also be liable for clearing the area to the value of half the price, 25 billion forints (EUR 61.5m), he added.

The head of ruling Fidesz-KDNP's Budapest chapter said on Facebook in response to the announcement by Gulyas that "the fate of Rakosrendezo is sealed. If 50 billion [forints] can be paid for a landfill, then there should be money for other things as well, clearing up the rubbish, developments, serving the interests of the people of Budapest, such as repaving roads, developing fixed-track transport, building P+R parking, or managing the housing crisis".

Alexandra Szentkiralyi said Budapest had suffered a huge loss, and the damage was caused by the city's elected leaders who said no to a 5,000 billion forint investment, thousands of jobs and billions of revenue for the city.

"Karacsony and his allies decided, from now on it is their responsibility what will happen to Rakosrendezo. We know what will happen: nothing. Like the City Hall park, which was never completed... Budapest develops only when the government develops it," she said.

"Now is the time for Karacsony to prove that they have a plan and they put it into practice. But everyone knows what to expect... Budapest's leaders are buying the past for 50 billion when they should only have supported the future," Szentkiralyi said.

Gulyas: Govt acknowledges Budapest company's pre-emption rights over Rakosrendezo

The government acknowledges the pre-emption rights of Budapest Kozmuvek Nonprofit (BKM) over the brownfield area in Rakosrendezo, the minister leading the Prime Minister's Office told a regular press conference, adding that the relevant government decree will be issued later on Thursday.

BKM, a company owned by the Budapest municipality, has exercised its pre-emption rights over the brownfield area in Budapest's 14th district, Gergely Gulyas said. The government had "studied" the declaration to clarify the links between the civil rights agreement and the international agreement in the works over the same area, he said.

BKM declared to take on all duties that would have fallen on the investor-developer from the United Arab Emirates, Gulyas said. "In view of that, the government acknowledges the pre-emption rights."

City Hall, and BKM, will be mandated to pay the price for the area under the terms and conditions of the agreement. It will also be liable for clearing the area to the value of half the price, 25 billion forints (EUR 61.5m), he added.

Hidveghi: Tisza's operative leader 'openly pro-migrant'

Peter Magyar, the leader of the opposition Tisza Party, has appointed "an openly pro-migrant person" to act as the party's operative leader, Balazs Hidveghi, state secretary of the prime minister's cabinet, said on Facebook on Thursday.

Referring to a recent interview with Gabor Posfai, Hidveghi cited him as saying that Vienna's ethnic minorities created cultural diversity and brought with them many benefits.

"Is cancelling a series of Taylor Swift concerts in the wake of terrorist threats ... or a Palestinian mob rampaging in Stephansplatz after the Hamas terror attack what he calls cultural diversity?" Hidveghi said.

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

*********************************

You're very welcome to comment, discuss and enjoy more stories via our Facebook page: 
Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoop’s groups: Budapest Expats / Expats Hungary

You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters

Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? Then just contact us here.