Budapest Mayor Presents Honorary Citizen Titles

Budapest is the capital of the nation, and the city’s future cannot depend on party sympathies and selfish power interests, Mayor Gergely Karácsony said this Wednesday when he presented honorary citizens' titles and other awards on the occasion of Capital Day, the Hungarian state news agency MTI reports.

Budapest is a bridgehead, an island in an environment where [those holding the political] power is once again seeking to complete centralization and basing its political success on frustration, fear, selfishness and isolation, in addition to a bending of reality, he said. "But Budapest is defending itself against the vested interests of power, and the hegemonic power has no chance of crushing the city," he added.

Gergely Karácsony stated that cities used to be protected by building walls around them. "Today, however, we protect the city by dismantling the walls that are being erected out of hatred, lies and the privilege of the few, in the way of freedom, justice and the majority," he said.

He stressed that the city's leadership would not give in to the need to make Budapest a green, livable, solidary and safe place. The city would not give up on these goals even if it had to achieve them under more difficult financial conditions than ever before. “Because freedom and love of the city, which unites its inhabitants despite all their differences, can withstand any attack," he added.

Even in this situation, Budapest is making progress," the Mayor continued, pointing out that the depositories of this progress are those who contribute to it with their achievements: visionary planners, courageous artists, determined innovators, entrepreneurs who take up good causes, and honest working people.

He was of thew view that the key to tomorrow is in the hands of those who can create something lasting in today's often headwinds, who can formulate fresh ideas and who can do so much for Budapest. It is to them that the city expresses its gratitude on the occasion of the Capital Day, because their work, their expertise and their enthusiasm shield Budapest from all harmful intentions, Gergely Karácsony pointed out in his speech.

The capital bestowed the title of honorary citizen on songwriter and poet Anna Adamis, five-time Olympic gymnast Ágnes Keleti, Kossuth Prize-winning actor Gyula Bodrogi, pastor and president of the Hungarian Evangelical Brotherhood Gábor Iványi and Ferenc Novák, Kossuth Prize-winning choreographer.