Investigation into Alleged Cost Overrun on Chain Bridge Renovation

An investigation may be launched in connection with the alleged overpriced renovation of the Chain Bridge, Magyar Nemzet has been informed.

According to the newspaper, the police are re-examining the case because of a supplement to the complaint filed with the National Bureau of Investigation. A key figure in the “City Hall-gate” project spoke on a recording about how the left-wing city administration could have siphoned money from the project. In a police footage obtained by Magyar Nemzet, the previously mentioned businessman said the following:

They are busy looting and distributing money around the Chain Bridge and Blaha Lujza Square, etc.”, to which his conversation partner replied: “Can you make money out of this?”.

Referring to the Chain Bridge in the recording, the businessman specifically said, “Well, it cost five billion more and it’s smaller.” After his remark, he referred to the renovation of Blaha Lujza Square: ” It’s the same with Blaha Lujza Square, it’s a third more expensive and less content.”

Regarding the current city administration, he added:

this bunch is working diligently on these all day long.”

István Tényi, who is known for his several previous legal cases and denunciations, has filed a supplementary denunciation based on the facts above. The fate of the case depends on the outcome of the supplementary denunciation, which the authority has 30 days to decide.

A-Híd won the tender for the renovation of the Chain Bridge under the conservative mayor, István Tarlós. With the election of mayor Gergely Karácsony (progressive), a new public procurement procedure was launched. The winner was once again A-Híd, but strangely they won with a bid HUF 5B (EUR 12.6M) more expensive than the one they would have paid under the previous mayor.

Via Magyar Nemzet; Featured Image: Twitter (X) / Gergely Karácsony