In a statement, the office said it was not enough for Budapest-run company leaders to adhere to the law; they must also avoid giving the slightest impression of publicly associating with individuals accused of organised budget fraud.

Bolla’s dismissal came after a recent news article linked him to Zsolt F, who has been charged with organised tax fraud.

Karacsony had asked Bolla to submit a report explaining his connection to Zsolt F and clarifying whether the other claims in the article were true, but Bolla’s explanations "were not enough to dispel all doubts", the office said.

The mayor has appointed BKV deputy chief Peter Takacs as the company’s acting CEO.

Earlier in the day, the opposition Democratic Coalition (DK) called for Bolla’s resignation, citing the article on his ties to Zsolt F.

In a Facebook post, DK city councillor Tibor Deri said Zsolt F is believed to be a key figure of a criminal organisation that is suspected of having been embedded in BKV for years, siphoning billions out of the company through overpriced contracts and fake subsidiaries.

According to the article, he not only had business dealings with BKV but was also close friends with Bolla, Deri added. He said that while several arrests have been made in the case, Bolla -- who has been at the helm of BKV for 13 years -- was never even questioned by police.

"The question isn’t whether Tibor Bolla himself has broken any laws, but whether he can be responsible for a company ... financed from public funds with this shadow hanging over him," Deri said.

Alexandra Szentkiralyi, ruling Fidesz's group leader in the Budapest city assembly, said on Facebook that all Budapest-run company leaders should resign and new CEOs should be chosen in a transparent way.

Tisza's Budapest chapter calls on mayor to replace BKV's entire management

The Tisza Party's Budapest chapter is demanding Gergely Karacsony, the city's mayor, set up a committee to investigate corruption associated with the capital's transport company BKV and replace its entire management.

Whereas yesterday Karacsony sacked Tibor Bolla from his post of chief executive of BKV, the move came too late and "does not reduce the mayor's responsibility in the matter", Tisza said in statement on Tuesday.

Despite "well-known suspicious cases", from 2019 the mayor always voted to approve Bolla's management and the extent of the corruption "permeating one of the capital's most important companies" only dawned on him six years later in light of press reports, the statement added.

The mayor "bears huge political responsibility" for keeping Bolla in place, it said. Given the numerous press reports outlining the problems at BKV it would have been possible "to guess what kind of business was going on" there. Yet not only did he not sack Bolla, he even fought to keep him in his post, Tisza said.

Karacsony should establish conditions suitable for selecting new managers through an open competition, the statement said.​​​​​​​

DK calls on BKV CEO to quit

The opposition Democratic Coalition (DK) has called on Tibor Bolla, the chief executive of Budapest transport company BKV, to resign after a recent news article linked him to Zsolt F, who has been charged with organised tax fraud.

Zsolt F is said to be a key figure of a criminal organisation that is suspected of having been embedded in BKV for years, siphoning billions out of the company through overpriced contracts and fake subsidiaries, DK city councillor Tibor Deri said on Facebook on Monday.

According to the article, he not only had business dealings with BKV but was also close friends with Bolla, Deri added.

He said that while several arrests have been made in the case, Bolla -- who has been at the helm of BKV for 13 years -- was never even questioned by police.

"The question isn’t whether Tibor Bolla himself has broken any laws, but whether he can be responsible for a company ... financed from public funds with this shadow hanging over him," Deri said.

Meanwhile, the Mayor’s Office said Gergely Karacsony, the city's mayor, has asked Bolla to submit a report explaining his connection to Zsolt F and clarifying whether the other claims in the article are true.

Alexandra Szentkiralyi, ruling Fidesz's group leader in the Budapest city assembly, said on Facebook that all Budapest-run company leaders should resign and new CEOs should be chosen in a transparent way.

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.