No Meaningful Dialogue Between Government and Local Councils, Mayor Says

More than 250 local leaders gathered in Mezőkövesd to discuss the future of local governments and the 2027 budget with a government representative. However, the invited government officials canceled their attendance one after another, Világgazdaság reported. According to László Horinka, mayor of Sülysáp, there has been no meaningful dialogue between the cabinet and local governments since the election.

László Horinka, mayor of Sülysáp, sharply criticized the government after not a single government official who had been previously mentioned as attending showed up at the Mezőkövesd regional forum of the National Association of Local Governments (TÖOSZ).

According to the mayor’s post, the opening address at the conference—attended by more than 250 local leaders—was originally to have been delivered by the minister of local government, who, however, canceled his participation a few weeks earlier and delegated the state secretary responsible for the area to speak in his place.

Later, the state secretary also withdrew, prompting organizers to consider inviting a deputy state secretary; however, it became clear on Friday morning that the deputy state secretary in question had not even been informed of this.

In his Facebook post, the mayor of Sülysáp also pointed out that, since the elections, substantive professional consultation between the government, local governments, and advocacy groups has practically ceased.

Courtesy visits alone cannot replace professional consultation,”

he stated.

Yet at the Mezőkövesd forum, several issues could have been placed on the agenda that will fundamentally shape the coming years for local communities. These include

constitutional reform, the planned restructuring of the local government system, and the preparation of the 2027 budget.

The mayors were primarily interested in receiving information about the government’s plans regarding these matters and in having the opportunity to share their own experiences and recommendations with decision-makers.

“More than 250 mayors came to share their experiences and receive answers on important issues affecting their communities. The question is simply this: “Does the government not want to, or does it not dare to, engage in meaningful dialogue with local governments?” László Horinka concluded in his post.

Via Vg.hu; Featured photo: MTI/Hegedüs Róbert

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