Although Gergely Karácsony announced, citing a severe lack of funds, that the Budapest Transport Center would increase the price of line tickets by 28 percent from September, Magyar Nemzet learned that, acting in his own decision-making authority, the mayor approved fabulous bonuses for the senior officials of BKK and BKV, the rewards for some managers amount to nearly ten million forints.

It was a busy July for Gergely Karácsony, on July 21 he reported in a loud Facebook post that the situation is very serious, there is no money, BKK has to raise the price of line tickets because the government is tightening the rules. "Sooner or later, we should raise it, and it is much fairer to do this honestly before the election than to doze off after the election," said the mayor.

Honesty here, snobbery there, according to the newspaper's information, on July 20, i.e. just one day before the announcement, Karácsony made important decisions in the utmost secrecy. Acting within his authority, the mayor authorized the payment of multimillion-dollar bonuses to three BKK and six BKV managers.

Katalin Walter, the CEO of the Budapest Transport Center Zrt., will receive HUF 9.96 million, Zsolt Szarka, the company's operational deputy CEO, HUF 8.8 million, and Ágnes Diószegi, the company's customer relations and sales deputy CEO, can also receive a HUF 8.8 million bonus.

Public transport managers cannot complain either. Tibor Bolla, CEO of BKV Budapesti Közlekedesi Zrt. 9.6 million, László Bátora, the company's Deputy CEO for Economics 8.64 million, László Szedlmajer, the company's Deputy CEO for Bus and Trolleybus Operations 5.6 million, Péter Takács, the company's railway operations deputy general manager can pocket HUF 8.6 million.

Karácsony also decided on the remuneration of the managing director of BKV Panoráma Kft. and BKV Vasúti Járműjavító Szolgáltató Kft. According to this, Zsolt Kálmán can receive HUF 2.76, while József Herczeg can receive HUF two million.

The senior managers of BKK and BKV can therefore receive a total of HUF 65 million in bonuses, and the payments are charged to the budget of the respective company.

Cover image: Mayor Gergely Karácsony gives a speech, next to him is Gergely Örsi (Momentum–DK–MSZP–Párbeszéd–LMP) II. district mayor and Bence Tordai (Párbeszéd), opposition parliamentary representative of the constituency, at the press conference on the capital's vehicle exchange program held on Széll Kálmán tér on June 15, 2023. (Photo: MTI/Tibor Illyés)