Kata Tüttő, Deputy Lord Mayor of Budapest, and László Andor, FEPS Secretary General discuss the responsibilities of municipalities at the time of the COVID-19 crisis. Budapest elected a progressive government last October, which immediately announced climate emergency, relaunched social dialogue and decided upon wage increases for public employees. Today Kata Tüttő is in charge of the response to the COVID-19 outbreak in the Hungarian capital where she is making sure that citizens and employees feel protected and they can rely on quality public services.The coronavirus crisis is a formidable challenge, not least because Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is using the health emergency for another power grab. How the European Union should act in this new chapter of the Hungarian Rule of Law crisis? Could the EU provide funds directly to municipalities? Can the leadership of the city maintain the long-term climate agenda while fighting for the health and safety of its citizens?
