Le bas du Danube a menacé la centrale nucléaire hongroise.

Hungary's Paks nuclear power plant faces a critical threat due to record-low water levels in the Danube River, forcing partial shutdowns and raising concerns over energy production during peak summer demand. The crisis has become the first major challenge for new Prime Minister Péter Magyar, who took office in May following a parliamentary election victory in April. The situation has sparked political tensions, with the ruling party Tisza blaming the previous government under Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz for failing to invest adequately in infrastructure, while Fidesz accuses the current administration of incompetence. The Paks plant, which normally supplies around 40 percent of Hungary’s electricity needs, has had nearly all its reactors shut down due to insufficient water for cooling. If river levels drop further, the facility could face a complete shutdown for the first time in 42 years, potentially leading to electricity restrictions. With temperatures soaring and energy consumption rising sharply, the crisis has placed significant pressure on Magyar’s government to manage the situation effectively. Daniel Hegedüs, deputy director of the Institute for European Policy, noted that the current situation poses both a risk to the new government’s reputation and an opportunity for Magyar to demonstrate his ability as a crisis manager. According to a July poll by the Republicon institute, Magyar’s Tisza party enjoys support from 58 percent of voters, compared to just 20 percent for Fidesz, which lost power after losing the April elections. Fidesz, which ruled Hungary for 16 years before the recent electoral defeat, has seized on the crisis to criticize the new government. János Bóka, leader of Fidesz’s parliamentary group, posted on social media accusing the current administration of lacking control over the situation. He claimed that the problems stem from the sacrifices made by the Hungarian people, self-regulation by companies, and the developments of the past 16 years. “The government led by Tisza does not know how to handle the energy crisis,” he wrote. In response, Magyar stated that Hungary would overcome the crisis through increased production at other power plants, enhanced imports, and appeals to industry and citizens to voluntarily reduce their electricity consumption. The government has also prepared contingency plans, including potential rotational restrictions for industrial consumers. “This unprecedented situation requires solutions we have not used before,” Magyar said, emphasizing the importance of coordination and cooperation. According to analyst Daniel Hegedüs, the government has already taken necessary steps to manage the crisis, including strategic public communication, mobilizing domestic capacities, and securing imports from European markets to meet demand. “The government has already done everything possible in these circumstances to successfully manage the crisis,” he said. From the ruling Tisza party, responsibility for the crisis is being shifted onto the previous government. MP Marton Hajdu told Euronews that the current government should not be held accountable for inadequate investments in the Paks plant’s infrastructure, which would allow it to operate even during droughts. “The government is doing its job. At the same time, Hungarians are now seeing the true legacy of the former government. Every day it becomes clearer how crucial infrastructure needed by the country was never built. While they squandered and extracted huge amounts of public money, they were willing to let billions in EU funds slip away. Our task is to minimize the cost the Hungarian people must pay for the irresponsibility of the previous government,” Hajdu said. A senior official close to Magyar’s government, speaking anonymously to Euronews, suggested that the crisis could become an opportunity if major mistakes are avoided. “This is a chance to prove ourselves, to show that we are competent and to help unite the nation. It is also an opportunity to explain how Fidesz betrayed the country, while our ministers can show what they know,” the official said. He added that there is one condition: “We must get through this crisis without making big mistakes or deviating from the topic.”