According to Karácsony Gergely, subcontractor networks operating as mafia have already been cleared from Budapest.

In recent developments concerning allegations of corruption in Budapest's municipal administration, Mayor Gergely Karácsony has made strong public statements regarding his stance on bribery and the actions taken against alleged corrupt networks. Reacting to a report published by Telex, which detailed claims that a politician known as "Pék" accepted hundreds of millions of forints in bribes from Z. Zsolt in connection with park maintenance issues, Karácsony emphasized that such practices could not succeed under his leadership. He stated, “We cannot be bought. And even the main briber admits this.” This response was posted on his Facebook page following the publication of the Telex article.

The report highlighted that despite receiving significant sums from Z. Zsolt, the latter’s company, Pannon Park Forest Kft., did not secure any contracts from the city government. According to Z. Zsolt’s testimony, this failure led to repeated confrontations with Pék, one of which reportedly included a threat to throw the money into the Danube River. Karácsony pointed out that not only had the interests of Z. Zsolt not been served, but the city administration had initiated measures to dismantle the entire network of subcontractors involved in green space maintenance.

Following the establishment of the Budapest Public Utilities (BKM), stricter controls were implemented over subcontracted work, and more rigorous procurement procedures were enforced than ever before. All maintenance tasks related to green areas under the city’s jurisdiction were taken over by the BKM, effectively removing subcontractors from these responsibilities. Karácsony described how this process affected various aspects of urban management, including security and cleaning services. He noted that new tenders were not launched for green area maintenance within the city, and instead, all such work was carried out using internal resources.

To eliminate the so-called “park maintenance mafia,” Karácsony outlined steps taken by the city, including hiring 140 employees and purchasing equipment worth over 300 million forints. These efforts were aimed at clearing the city of the alleged criminal network operating under the guise of subcontractors. The mayor also mentioned that the BKM had filed criminal charges and civil lawsuits against nine companies involved in green space maintenance over the past decade. These legal proceedings remain ongoing, with another round of criminal charges recently filed against the broader group of subcontractors previously engaged in such work.

Looking ahead, Karácsony announced plans to remove the automated parking systems that he claimed had long supported the so-called “parking mafia.” He concluded his post by emphasizing that while statements and testimonies may vary, the focus should be on the actions taken rather than just the words spoken. His message was clear: the city would continue its efforts to clean up the infrastructure of subcontractor networks functioning like organized crime.

The situation surrounding Z. Zsolt appears complex, given that he reportedly faced legal consequences after accepting bribes. While he might have avoided some of the current troubles had he thrown the money into the Danube, as suggested during one confrontation, he chose differently. According to his own account, he had allegedly paid bribes to numerous politicians over the course of a decade, several of whom were recently placed under pre-trial detention. Despite these allegations, the politicians in question have consistently denied any wrongdoing.

Pék, according to Z. Zsolt’s testimony, played a central role in facilitating these transactions. For instance, he requested that Z. Zsolt seek bribes from the Hungast company in exchange for not challenging their local contract. Further details about how Z. Zsolt allegedly distributed the corrupt funds to various politicians can be found in additional reports. As the legal processes unfold, the implications of these allegations will likely continue to shape the political landscape in Budapest.