Budapest Mayor Demszky Leaving With Mixed Feelings

  • 16 Sep 2010 2:00 AM
Budapest Mayor Demszky Leaving With Mixed Feelings
"Budapest mayor Gábor Demszky says he is leaving the post with ambivalent feelings next month because, although Budapest has never made so much progress as in the past 20 years and compares well with other capitals in the region, he is unhappy about the scandals of the past two years and the loss of trust and support.

Speaking in an interview with Népszabadság, Demszky listed the Csepel sewage purification plant and the fourth metro line now under construction as the city’s two biggest investment projects.

He noted that he has outlasted seven prime ministers in 20 years, but said none of them has been supportive of Budapest.

Regarding the demise of his party, the Free Democrats, Demszky said the failure to maintain party independence from the Socialists led to its disappearance and to his own failure during his brief term as party chairman. He said subsequent party chairman Gábor Fodor failed for similar reasons.

Demszky said he convinced the Free Democrat leadership to support Gordon Bajnai as prime minister 18 months ago.

After being involved for 20 years in politics Demszky said he is about to write a memoir, is looking for a civilian job and would be pleased to see his successors do a better job than him."

Source: Hungary Around the Clock.

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