Budapest votes against holding 2024 bid referendum
Budapest city council on Wednesday voted against holding a referendum on its bid to host the 2024 Olympics, just days after Hamburg residents rejected their city's bid for the event.
Councillors voted 16-14 against the proposal to hold a referendum, which had been put forward by the opposition party.
Budapest mayor Istvan Tarlos described the motion as "political demagoguery".
"From a political point-scoring point of view, 'Let's ask the people' sounds good," said Tarlos, an ally of right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his Fidesz party.
The decision should rest with elected lawmakers however, he added.
"If decision-makers are unable to make decisions, then they are unfit for what they were voted for," Tarlos told the assembly.
The Hungarian government, and parliament, as well as City Hall all backed the bid earlier this year.
Last Sunday, 51.6 percent of Hamburg voters said no to bidding for the event. Olympic organisers blamed the rejection on the terror attacks in Paris and worries about hosting costs.
Hamburg's withdrawal left four contenders in the race: Budapest, Los Angeles, Paris and Rome.
Opinion polls in Hungary have shown a small majority in favour of hosting the games.
A referendum could still be held if enough signatures of Budapest residents were collected, but analysts consider it unlikely that the bid will be blocked.
The International Olympic Committee will make a decision in mid-2017.