Exposed: Orbán Cabinet builds massive refugee camp near the Hungarian-Austrian border – UPDATED: reactions, denial

What is the Hungarian government up to? This is the question on everyone’s lips in Vitnyéd—a village of 1,440 residents (as of 2023)—as discussions unfold in closed Facebook groups, on the streets, and in local diners and pubs. Many of the villagers believe their settlement is already doomed. The mayor claims to know nothing of the details, but locals insist the new refugee camp will accommodate at least 500 people. And they are fearful of what this might bring.

The first question was raised in a private Facebook group

Nyugat.hu, a Hungarian media outlet critical of the Orbán government, conducted an on-site report on the construction of Hungary’s latest large refugee camp in Vitnyéd, a small settlement in Győr-Moson-Sopron County, near the Austrian border.

They reported that the area had been enclosed by a new fence, but police officers guarding the site declined to answer journalists’ questions.

The news of a brand-new refugee camp first broke a few days earlier when Kisalföld, a local newspaper, wrote about a camp being set up in what was once a dairy college in an area known as Csermajor. Speculation about the new camp began following a post in a private Facebook group of former students. The village mayor promised to investigate, stating that the local government had not been informed by state authorities about the creation of a refugee camp.

The mayor fulfils his promise

Later, Mayor Csaba Szalai updated residents in the village’s official Facebook group. He announced that the Hungarian government would construct a refugee camp comprising three buildings on the site. The former school’s kitchen would also be renovated, and a fence would be erected around the new facility. Moreover, the Hungarian Defence Forces are guarding the site, so even the mayor has no access.

In his post, he explained that Hungary faces a fine of €200 million and a daily surcharge of €1 million for non-compliance with European Union regulations on accepting migrants. More details on the European Commission’s decision can be found HERE.

Former students expressed their dismay at the news, lamenting that they would no longer be able to hold their annual reunions in the old school buildings.

A teardrop for Csermajor:

The Kisalföld also reported that Ukrainian refugees had been housed in Csermajor.

A new refugee camp in Csermajor

Nyugat.hu spoke to Matild, a local woman living in a house near Csermajor, about the Ukrainians and the planned refugee camp. She expressed her discontent, adding that the Ukrainian refugees previously housed there had attempted to rob her on multiple occasions. She emphasised her fear of foreigners.

Nyugat.hu reported that police officers were stopping all cars entering the facility, but there were no signs indicating the purpose of the work. The journalists tried to speak with the village mayor, but Mr Szántai said he could not comment. He only mentioned that Csermajor is state-owned, so the local government has no jurisdiction there.

The establishment of the refugee camp appears odd, especially given Prime Minister Orbán’s recent speech in Kötcse, where he stressed that Hungary would not accept any refugees. So, what has changed? Neither the Ministry of Interior nor the police responded to Nyugat.hu’s inquiries.

Orbán in Kötcse. Photo: Facebook / Orbán Viktor

Locals are fearful and desperate

Journalists spoke with locals who seemed desperate for more information about the new refugee camp. Many feared that the arrival of numerous refugees would spell disaster for the village. They worried that property prices would plummet, making it impossible for them to leave Vitnyéd. Others voiced concerns for their families, children, and homes.

Szabad Európa published a map of the new camp, which you can find at the end of THIS article.

You can also watch a video reel on the matter HERE.

UPDATE 1 – Main challenger Péter Magyar slams Orbán: government unfit to handle migration

Péter Magyar, the head of the opposition Tisza party, on Friday said the government was “unqualified” to handle the issue of migration. In a post on Facebook, Magyar accused Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of using the issue of migration to deflect attention from “Hungary’s economic collapse and the health-care crisis”. He said “locals in Vitnyéd, in Győr-Moson-Sopron County” were saying that the government was planning to settle 500 illegal migrants in the village, in north-western Hungary, and put them under the supervision of the military.

“Enough with the deflections and the lies,” Magyar said, and asked the government why it wanted to use taxpayer money to turn a formerly reputable school into a “migrant camp”. “The people in Vitnyéd are afraid, and the homes there and are losing their value,” he said, insisting that the government had gone back on its promise to protect Hungarians from illegal migrants and released 2,000 people smugglers. He said the government was also bringing in “60,000 Asian economic migrants a year”, putting the profits of multinational companies before the safety and livelihood of the Hungarian people. Magyar said the Tisza party supported strict migration regulations and the protection of Hungary’s borders, and called on the government to

stop building migrant camps and withdraw its decision to settle Asian economic migrants in the country.

UPDATE 2 – Orbán cabinet: Magyar betrays Hungarians

Peter Magyar, the leader of the opposition Tisza party, is betraying Hungarians by promoting migration regulations adopted in Brussels, the communications director of the allied ruling Fidesz-Christian Democrats said on Friday. In response to a statement by the leader of the opposition Tisza Party earlier in the day, Tamás Menczer slammed Péter Magyar in a video on Facebook, saying that Magyar had accused the government of being incapable of protecting the borders while rejecting migration “only in words”. Meanwhile, the government has built a fence protected by policemen and border patrols risking their lives, he said.

The officers have already foiled one million illegal entry attempts, “and they deserve gratitude and respect, rather than the lies and accusations of Péter Magyar,” Menczer said. “The situation is clear: you [Peter Magyar] want Brussels rules which you find marvellous … and you betray the Hungarian people. We want security, because we value Hungarians more than rules from Brussels,” he said.

UPDATE 3 – Orbán’s MP denies

The Fidesz MP of the electoral district, Alpár Gyopáros, said in a Facebook video that there would not be a refugee camp in Vitnyéd and that Péter Magyar was only spreading lies. He claimed all that even though the settlement’s mayor received information that there would be a refugee camp for 500 people. Mr Gyopáros added that Ukrainian refugees occupied the buildings illegally and the government – as owners – was just renovating them.

Read also:

• Hungarian official’s harsh words: Hungary ready to transport migrants to Brussels by buses – read more HERE
• Security Advisor: no dangerous people smugglers, only drivers were released by the Hungarian government

Featured image: illustration