Budapest city assembly fails to raise quorum, session cancelled

Budapest, January 21 (MTI) – The extraordinary session of Budapest’s municipal assembly on public transport funding convened for Thursday morning had to be cancelled as it failed to raise the required quorum of over 50 percent.

A total of 10 representatives, Mayor Istvan Tarlós and nine opposition councillors showed up for the meeting.

Several opposition councillors gave press briefings before the meeting was scheduled to start.

Socialist councillor Csaba Horváth said his party would have recommended passing legislation that mandates the government to guarantee a minimum funding level for the capital. He said his party proposes spending 50 percent of local business tax revenue from Budapest residents, around 100 billion forints (EUR 317.6m), on funding the capital, which he said would increase Budapest’s revenues by around 60 billion forints.

Marcell Tokody of the Jobbik party said it was unacceptable that the dispute over public transport has led to less frequent services, higher ticket prices and job losses in the sector. Jobbik demands that the mayor’s office reveal its plans regarding the city’s public transport services, he said.