HUNGARY: Giant election poster of the prime minister provokes mixed reactions, but benefits building in need of repair
Record ID:
859352
HUNGARY: Giant election poster of the prime minister provokes mixed reactions, but benefits building in need of repair
- Title: HUNGARY: Giant election poster of the prime minister provokes mixed reactions, but benefits building in need of repair
- Date: 22nd March 2006
- Summary: WIDE: FROM RESIDENT'S WINDOW FROM BEHIND THE POSTER
- Embargoed: 6th April 2006 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Hungary
- City:
- Country: Hungary
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAXEULXG9C512EQ6C45OP1AYNH
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: The biggest advertising poster in Central Europe bears the smiling face of Hungary's prime minister, Ferenc Gyurcsany.
The poster hangs on one of the highest buildings of the city, a concrete high-rise of 18 floors built in the 1970s. It covers the whole face of the building and measures 1700 square metres.
But while the poster blocks out 30 percent of the light into the building's apartments, the residents seem to have taken a light-hearted approach to the situation.
"We are the ones who know what's behind the back of the prime minister, we even know what is behind his ears. So it's good for us," said Ferenc Hellner.
And the poster serves another purpose. The residents opted to allow their home to be an advertising beacon because of their dire need for money to spend on the building.
"It is very significant for the house. The community charge does not cover the technical running costs of the building," said Hellner.
"When this building was sold (to the residents) it was in a very run-down state, and there was a lot to renovate. But there is no money for the renovation. This (poster) pays 1.2 million Forints (approx 4800 euros) per month. So the residents of this building can choose between paying 20,000 Forints more per month for the community charge, or they endure this, because nothing is for free," he added.
Hellner and his wife, Ibolya Petro are both pensioners and cannot afford any increase in the community charge. The building needs repairs to its wiring, elevators and heating.
But while they agreed to the building being used for advertising, they didn't expect it to be the face of their Prime Minister that they woke up to every morning.
"When I went downstairs and saw it, I was a little taken aback by how huge the ad was, even if it's of the Gyurcsany minister about whom, unfortunately, we have to say that he doesn't know how to run the country," said Petro.
"The biggest problem with him is that in the past year and half he has driven us into such a huge debt that our great-grand children, and we have two, will not be able to pay it back," she added.
For people living in the area, there is mixed feelings about the poster.
"I think it's witty and clever because as cars are driving out everyone notices it, not only from here but one can see it from over there as it's above the fly-over so one can see at least a third of it from far away. So it's very visible," said Zoltan Nadas .
But Sandor Farkas isn't happy with the memories it inspires.
"This whole thing evokes, brings back the dictatorship. The fate of the country is not depending on one person but on political thinking," he said.
The other three main parties running for the election have not tried to compete in the poster race on such a grand scale, with more moderate offerings around the city. But the main party may soon be out of the competition - the district building authority has issued a removal order saying the poster is four times bigger than is currently allowed.
But the residents of the building want it to stay, and have said they will fight a legal battle to maintain their new source of income. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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