Following protests from Jewish groups, including the World Jewish Congress, Budapest City Council has annulled its decision to name a street in the Hungarian capital after Cécile Tormay, a controversial early-20th century writer known for her anti-Semitic views.
At a meeting on Tuesday, the councilors decided not to change any place names in Budapest before the next local elections.
Budapest Mayor Istvan Tarlos said that disputes over place name changes "have become too sharp" and no opportunity should be provided for anyone to use possible further changes for political purposes.
The council decided in May that a street should be named after Tormay in the city’s upmarket Second District. Several Jewish organizations, including the Hungarian Jewish community federation Mazsihisz and the World Jewish Congress (WJC), had loged a protest against the move.
Mazsihisz asked Tarlos to withdraw the naming decree and referred to Tormay as "openly anti-Semitic". The federation expressed "shock" that on the 75th anniversary of the first anti-Jewish laws, the district was celebrating such a personality. Ronald S. Lauder, the head of the WJC, also expressed "shock". Tarlos then ordered a review of the decision.
