Taxi drivers end demo – Update

Budapest, January 21 (MTI) – Taxi drivers ended their demonstration against ride-hailing company Uber in downtown Budapest after talks with the development ministry on Thursday afternoon.

Earlier in the day, two state secretaries from the development ministry, Gabor Czepek and Laszlo Taso, met representatives of the taxi drivers for talks.

Zsolt Gelencser, one of the demonstration’s organisers, told a press conference after the meeting that an agreement was reached with the government representatives on starting talks next week concerning the law on taxi services and how the operations of Uber may comply with rules governing taxis.

He thanked members of the public for their patience during the protest and he also thanked the police for their help. He added that the demonstration had met its goal.

Another organiser, Csaba Czifery, said government representatives at the talks declared they were on the side of taxi drivers. He said the taxi drivers will be represented by a delegation at next week’s talks and they expect that at least four to six weeks will be necessary to introduce effective rules.

The development ministry said the taxi drivers’ representatives promised at the talks that the demonstration would end on Thursday afternoon. The government representatives said they are “on the side of the taxi drivers who obey laws and pay taxes”. The ministry added in a statement it had been agreed that taxi services can only be provided according to the rules of a government decree and under equal conditions for all participants. Talks will continue next week and the ministry said it awaits proposals from taxi representatives.