As Fidesz plans to completely restructure the system of municipal governance in the country and will also revamp Budapest’s local government in the process, it is time to take a look at the status of politics in the nation’s capital a few months after the right took control for the first time since regime transition. István Tarlós came in as a mayor blessed with a political constellation his long-term predecessor had failed to enjoy: he boasts an overwhelming majority in both the city council and among the districts mayors, and he has the ear of the national government.

Yet, he is also in an awfully difficult situation: bereft of funds to undertake any major changes and heading a local party that is beholden to the PM above all. In light of these obstacles, Tarlós hasn’t achieved much. To change that he needs to balance carefully and also remind Fidesz that giving up on Budapest would be a costly mistake.

Policy Solutions' analysis on the performanece of István Tarlós, mayor of Budapest can be downloaded from here.