Following elections, Hungary’s armed forces began withdrawing troops from critical infrastructure sites previously deployed due to alleged Ukrainian attack threats.
Orbán’s Prior Warnings and Deployments
Two days after the elections, the Hungarian Armed Forces started withdrawing soldiers from critical facilities they were protecting due to a purported threat of attack from Ukraine, according to Hungarian independent news portal 444.hu, citing a statement from the Hungarian Ministry of Defence.
Soldiers remained only near a few facilities, as the companies operating them conduct reviews of their own security measures and procedures.
Government’s Stance on Ukrainian Threat
The Orbán government had ordered the military to defend Hungary against Ukraine. In February, Prime Minister Orbán announced strengthened protection of critical infrastructure and the deployment of troops around it, along with a ban on drone use in Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg county, bordering Ukraine.
He claimed that “Ukraine is preparing for further actions aimed at disrupting the functioning of the Hungarian energy system.”
Dispute Over Russian Oil Transit
This decision followed the suspension of Russian oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline via Ukraine. The pipeline was damaged in a Russian attack and is still under repair. Budapest, however, accused Kyiv of deliberately halting supplies.
Protection of TurkStream Pipeline
In April, a week before the parliamentary elections, Orbán announced the deployment of troops to protect the TurkStream gas pipeline, through which Russian natural gas reaches the country. Earlier that day, Serbian authorities reported finding explosives near the pipeline on the Serbian side.
Election Results and New Government
In Sunday’s (April 12th) parliamentary elections in Hungary, the opposition TISZA party won a constitutional majority of 133 seats in the 199-seat National Assembly. With nearly 99% of votes counted, Peter Magyar’s party holds 137 seats, the Fidesz-KDNP coalition led by Orbán has 56, and the far-right Mi Hazánk has six.
Votes cast by mail and from abroad are still being tallied. The new Hungarian government is expected to be sworn in mid-May.