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Scandal: Hungarian deputy mayor Bodor resigns after festival brawl
A serious brawl has shaken the Pest County village of Szentmártonkáta following a local sausage-making festival. Deputy Mayor András Bodor resigned from his position after a woman accused him of assaulting her during the incident. Police have also launched an investigation.
The brawl broke out after the festival
The brawl reportedly began as the Szentmártonkáta sausage-making festival was coming to an end. According to witnesses, a heated argument developed between Deputy Mayor András Bodor and other guests who remained at the venue after the official programme had finished.
The disagreement quickly escalated into a physical confrontation. Several witnesses said that many people present had been drinking alcohol throughout the evening, which may have intensified the situation and contributed to the brawl.
Emergency services were soon called to the scene, with both police officers and paramedics arriving at the festival grounds. News of the brawl spread rapidly throughout the village, where residents have continued discussing the incident in the days since it occurred. One witness, Sándor, told reporters that events unfolded extremely quickly: by the time he returned to the area, police vehicles with flashing blue lights had already arrived near the beer tent.
Woman reportedly suffered serious injuries
One of the participants in the brawl was a 27-year-old woman named Gréta, who claims that András Bodor struck her during the altercation. According to reports, she suffered significant injuries to her face and eye and required immediate medical treatment.
She was taken to hospital by ambulance, where doctors carried out several examinations. Initially, there were concerns that surgery might be required because the injury could have affected her eyesight. However, later medical assessments suggested that her vision is likely to remain intact, although a full recovery may take several weeks while the swelling and bruising subside.
Gréta’s husband was also present during the brawl and reportedly tried to intervene to protect his wife. Police detained both men at the scene in order to clarify the circumstances of the incident. While Bodor was questioned in connection with the alleged assault, the husband was later heard by police as a witness.
A local resident, Viktória, said the woman had been deeply affected by the events. According to her, the injuries were not only physical but emotional as well, and she criticised those who had blamed the victim rather than condemning the alleged violence.
Earlier conflict may have led to the brawl
According to the injured woman, the brawl may have stemmed from an earlier dispute. She claims that several months before the festival, the deputy mayor had offered her a well-paid position at the local municipality in exchange for sexual favours.
During the festival, she reportedly confronted Bodor about this alleged proposal in front of other people. Witnesses say that this accusation triggered a heated argument that ultimately escalated into the brawl.
As a result, the incident has drawn even greater attention, as it involves not only an alleged physical assault but also claims of inappropriate behaviour linked to a public official.
Deputy mayor denies allegations
Following the incident, András Bodor announced that he would resign from his position as deputy mayor while the investigation continues. In a statement published on social media, he described the allegations connected to the brawl as unfounded and untrue.
He also stated that he did not want the matter to become part of a political dispute and emphasised that he was willing to cooperate fully with the authorities. The post later disappeared from his social media page, which fuelled further speculation about the situation.
Some local residents also claimed that Bodor had been heavily intoxicated on the night of the festival and was unable to be questioned by police until the following day.
Police investigation may clarify the brawl
A police investigation has been launched in connection with the festival brawl. Authorities are expected to question several witnesses and gather statements from people who were present when the incident occurred.
In Szentmártonkáta, the brawl remains a major topic of conversation among residents. Some have expressed strong support for the injured woman, while others say the final judgment should be left to the official investigation.
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Bodor was appointed by the Fidesz mayor. He was Deputy State Secretary and Administrative State Secretary for the Ministry of Youth and Sport for the first Fidesz government between 1999 and 2002. That Bodor still hasn’t been charged by police is quite concerning. The woman’s injury is quite obvious and there are multiple witnesses.