Dialogue emerged between the government and local authorities

The government views local councils as partners in the fight against the novel coronavirus, the head of the Prime Minister’s Office said on Wednesday.

Gergely Gulyás told the press that Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony and Károly Szita, the mayor of the city of Kaposvár and head of the association of cities with county rights, had attended Wednesday’s government meeting where responses to the novel coronavirus epidemic were discussed.

“Against all reports to the contrary … the government views local councils as partners … especially in the protection efforts against the novel coronavirus,” he said.

Cooperation with local councils is necessary for the efforts to be effective, he added.

Gulyás noted that the government-imposed curfew would lose effect on Saturday, that is why it was necessary to talk to the mayor of Budapest and the association of cities. He added that both partners had been “constructive” in the meeting.

He said political controversies were not timely and called for a cooperation irrespective of differences in opinion to successfully combat the epidemic.

Karácsony said at the press conference that

the epidemic warrants nationwide cooperation.

He welcomed an emerging dialogue between the government and local authorities and said that Budapest would do everything it can to enforce common decisions. He also called on residents to stay at home.

The city of Budapest and its districts have contributed to efforts of prevention and made preparations to tackle possible economic and social crises when the epidemic is over, Karácsony said. He said the government’s response had been positive to his request for early talks on the latter subject.