Soldiers have appeared at a natural gas storage facility near the village of Algyő in Csongrád-Csanád County, sparking a sharp dispute between the local mayor and the Hungarian government.
Áron Molnár, who has served as Algyő’s mayor since 2017, says the move is unnecessary scaremongering. The government, however, argues that the military presence is meant to protect critical energy infrastructure.
The mayor told the Hungarian weekly Magyar Hang that he had not been informed in advance about the arrival of soldiers in the village.
According to him, neither the armed forces nor the relevant ministry contacted him beforehand, even though the facility is located within the municipality’s administrative area.
Molnár said he found the situation particularly surprising, noting that local leaders are usually notified ahead of such measures. He added that he only received an email about the military presence nearly a week after the soldiers had already arrived, when the situation had already become common knowledge in the village.
“The government is frightening its own citizens”
In the interview, the mayor strongly criticised the government’s communication.
“I consider this kind of scaremongering to be outright treason. The government is now openly frightening its own citizens,” Molnár said.
According to him, the military presence serves primarily political purposes and resembles election-period messaging rather than a genuine security measure. The mayor urged residents of Algyő to interpret the situation accordingly.
Molnár also described how an elderly woman reportedly burst into tears in a local shop because she feared war might be approaching. He said the incident illustrates how the government’s messaging can create uncertainty among residents.
Soldiers as “decorative props”
The mayor also commented on the situation of the soldiers themselves.
“I feel very sorry for the soldiers, who are sent here under orders to play the fool, even though they would stand no chance if these facilities were truly under serious threat,” Molnár said. He added that the soldiers were placed in a humiliating position by being used as what he called “decorative props” next to the facility.
Molnár first became mayor of Algyő in a by-election in 2017 and has led the village ever since. He was re-elected in the municipal elections of both 2019 and 2024 and continues to play an active role in managing the affairs of the community.
The Algyő gas storage facility as a strategic site
As reported by Hungarian news outlet SzeretlekMagyarorszag.hu, the government announced earlier in March that security would be strengthened at several strategic facilities across the country, including energy infrastructure and the Paks Nuclear Power Plant.
According to the official explanation, national security reports warned that risks related to the war between Russia and Ukraine could make Hungary’s energy system a potential target.
As a result, increased military presence has been ordered at several locations, and temporary airspace restrictions have been introduced in certain areas, including above Paks.
The measures may also affect Algyő because the security gas storage facility operating there is considered a key element of Hungary’s energy supply system. A significant portion of the country’s strategic gas reserves is stored at the site, which is why the government argues that additional protection is necessary and describes the move as a precautionary security step.
In a related article, we examined the controversy surrounding a massive Ukrainian flag at Péter Magyar’s recent march and claims about possible provocateurs.
Cover photo: Algyo.hu / Facebook
I don’t even …
1, Why does a mayor think he can influence what the army does?
2, How does he think he can make adequate decisions about national security, without the confidential data the government has?
3, How can he not understand, how much he oversteps his authority?
4, How does he imagine, that the army needs to inform him about army operations?
5, Who gave him authority to interfere with army operations, and national security?
It’s like a foot soldier being outraged about not being consulted about a potential war declaration.
I can’t even imagine, how it is possible to be that arrogant. And BTW, I’m very, very arrogant.
Since we are in Year 4 of the Special Military Operation, The more probable reason for precautionary measures can in all probability be ascribed with heightened global tensions (“WW3!”) resulting from war of choice of Mr. Trump and Mr. Netanyahu on Iran, expanding the threat landscape beyond immediate regional borders.
The convergence of these wars increases the risk of asymmetric threats, such as cyberattacks or sabotage, targeting European energy networks as leverage or retaliation.
Hungary aims to insulate its energy supply from both direct spillover from Mr. Putin’s war on Ukraine and potential disruptions caused by the war of choice on Iran spilling over in the Middle East and globally.
Why you wouldn’t coordinate with local authorities is beyond me, though.