Moreover, the renovation is surrounded by a strong smell of corruption.
István Tényi, who is known for his public interest announcements, turned to the Metropolitan Prosecutor's Office and the National Investigation Agency in connection with the information published in the Magyar Nemzet article.
As is known, the renovated part of the facade of the City Hall, which faces the City Hall Park, has become dangerous for accidents and life. According to sources familiar with the matter, the shadow of corruption is also cast over the project.
Construction began in 2022. The Capital City Government headed by Gergely Karácsony originally earmarked HUF 1.36 billion for the investment, but it is likely that the total amount may exceed HUF 2 billion.
By the end of 2023, the experts overseeing the project increasingly indicated to their superiors that there were many problems with the construction.
Several so-called error maps were prepared, according to one of these documents, the technical inspector detected more than 300 problems.
Moreover, it was not a matter of small things: in one place, for example, a piece of nearly ten kilograms broke off from the new plaster.
According to the technical inspection report, the plaster is loose in several places, that is, it has not adhered to the load-bearing structure, so new pieces can come off at any time.
According to press reports, although the office workers tried in vain to draw attention to the fact that the repair company should pay for the repairs from its own resources, or that the parties should at least somehow reach an agreement regarding the costs, the head of department responsible for the project swept the comments off the table.
Magyar Nemzet knows that two workers lost their jobs because they did not want to sign a document about the payment of 330 million, which would have confirmed that the project was 90 percent ready.
Magyar Nemzet sent questions about the case to the Metropolitan Municipality, as well as addressed a public interest data request to the Registrar General of Budapest in order to gain access to the construction documents. Zsolt Wintermantel, the leader of the Fidesz-KDNP faction in the capital, also brought up the matter of the renovation at the last session of the Capital Assembly before the election. However, Deputy Mayor Ambrus Kiss did not respond in substance to the concerns expressed in connection with the project.
On the contrary, promises were made by him and the mayor that the documents of the construction would be made public, and that the given part would be closed to the public while it lasted.
Cover image: The facade of the City Hall became life-threatening after the renovation
Source: MTI/MTVA/László Róka
