Kata Tüttő, the MEP candidate of the MSZP-DK-Párbeszéd coalition, said that although the politicians of the alliance parties think differently about certain issues, they share the same values. She said Hungary's relationship with the European Union should be linked to Budapest's 150-year history. She said that the capital is not a city of differences, but a city of agreement and diversity. It is both a Hungarian and a European city. And looking to the past does not mean moving on, but understanding it in order to shape the future. It is therefore not possible to choose between homeland and progress, between the countryside and Budapest, between Hungary and Europe, because all of these can only exist together.
The capital is currently one of the last reserves of democracy, a "guilty city" in the eyes of Fidesz, as it symbolises everything the governing party fears, the deputy mayor said. Budapest is a city of freedom, acceptance and diversity. The capital has shown that it is possible to govern in a different way, that there is another way, not only for the government. The capital not only talked about what needs to be done, it did it. In contrast to the government's actions, Budapest has taken a different, more humane approach to many issues, such as convening stakeholder forums, raising wages, tackling the housing and climate crisis, creating green spaces and reducing waiting lists in health institutions. They have governed through participatory rather than prescriptive governance, started climate neutrality rather than military missions, set up housing agencies rather than climate agencies, made public transport free for under-14s rather than closing railways, opened up the Danube embankment rather than closing the Balaton waterfront.
On 9 June, we must fight for the freedom of cities, to defend the current democratic city governments, because these are the reserves from which democracy can be rebuilt throughout the country. "There is no Hungary or Europe, only Hungary and Europe", concluded Kata Tüttő.
Klára Dobrev, Gergely Arató and Géza Mustó also spoke at the event in Kőbánya.
