Representatives of five parties in the Budapest municipal council failed to come to an agreement on Monday on the future framework of cooperation after the Socialist-liberal coalition split last week.
The Socialists quit the coalition with the liberal Free Democrats last week after 15 years. The two parties had been at loggerheads over how to deal with the scandal-ridden Budapest Public Transport Company (BKV) owned by the municipal council.
Head of the council group for main opposition Fidesz Istvan Tarlos, deputy head of the Christian Democrats’ group Istvan Endredy and head of the group of Hungarian Democratic Forum councillors Zoltan Hock left the meeting after about 45 minutes, citing a lack of agenda.
Hock said the current situation “could not be interpreted” as the Socialist-liberal coalition still seemed to exist.
Head of the Free Democrats’ group Emese John said after the meeting that in their view, the coalition was over. She added that all parties have indicated willingness to cooperate on certain projects.
Head of the Socialist group Pal Steiner said the Socialists would resubmit a proposal on tighter transparency laws, which the Free Democrats refused to support earlier.
