Orban's Olympic Dream Threatened by Budapest Referendum Push
- Budapest may rescind candidacy for 2024 Games next week: Mayor
- Olympic bid turns into political challenge for prime minister
The logo of host city candidate Budapest for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games on Batthyany square in Budapest, on Jan. 18.
Photographer: Zoltan Mathe/EPABudapest neared the brink of withdrawing its bid to host the 2024 Olympics after a group of activists tapped into widespread opposition to the project to force a referendum and deal a blow to Prime Minister Viktor Orban before elections next year.
Budapest Mayor Istvan Tarlos said he may submit a motion to withdraw the Hungarian capital’s bid next Wednesday if reports prove true that Orban’s government no longer supports the candidacy, Index news website reported on Friday. Earlier, Momentum announced it had successfully united the divided opposition to gather more than 266,000 signatures against the Hungarian capital’s bid, easily eclipsing the 138,000 required to initiate a plebiscite.