Gergely Karácsony, the left-liberal opposition candidate for mayor of Budapest, opened his campaign on Saturday in the capital city with a speech calling for Budapest to be “green and free at last”. Karácsony called on his followers “to take Budapest back from the hands of the privileged and return the city to its true owners, Budapest’s residents.” He promised that after the election Budapest residents would win back the capital’s money and self-esteem, and build a green city based on solidarity. He declared: “Let us say proudly … that I, too, am a Budapester!”