Ten US Cities Join Association of Free Cities; Permanent Office Opens in Budapest
Gergely Karácsony, the Mayor of Budapest, announced that ten American cities have officially joined the Association of Free Cities, marking a significant expansion of the initiative beyond Europe. Originally established in 2019 by the mayors of Budapest, Bratislava, Warsaw, and Prague, the association was formed to support progressive city administrations facing pressure from right-wing populist national governments. The group now comprises 35 European members, including Kiev and Paris. The new American members, who joined during a meeting in Bratislava, are Beaverton, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Montgomery, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, San Diego, and Seattle. Additionally, the association has established a permanent office in Budapest to coordinate its growing international activities. This office will be led by Olivér Pilz. This development highlights the globalization of the pact, which began as a regional response to political pressures in Central Europe and has now attracted significant interest from municipal leaders in the United States, fostering transatlantic cooperation among cities committed to democratic values and progressive governance.
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