Hungarian post offices quietly closing across the country
A wave of post office closures is silently sweeping through Hungary, with the state postal service withdrawing from many small towns and villages. This move, relatively unnoticed, will result in numerous post offices shutting down by mid-September. To fill the gap, alternative operators like local businesses and cooperatives are stepping in to manage postal services. However, this transition has left many communities with limited services or relying on mobile post offices. As contracts expire and future agreements remain uncertain, the fate of these post offices hangs in the balance.
Late in August, the state postal service updated its website with a list of post offices in Hungary that will either close or continue operating under postal partnerships by mid-September, as reported by Economx. Towns like Pusztakovácsi, Szalonna, Nagypeterd, Somogyfajsz, Szelevény, and Tiszasas will be affected, with their post offices either closing down or being integrated into local businesses.
In several rural areas where local governments could not sustain post offices financially or provide space, Coop stores have taken on the responsibility. These stores offered postal services in exchange for energy-efficient renovations through a state modernization grant. However, with postal service contracts nearing their end, it remains uncertain how many Coop stores will continue to provide these services.
The impact on smaller communities is stark. Residents of Homokszentgyörgy now have to rely on a mobile post office that visits for only thirty minutes each day.
“It’s frustrating for many, as they were used to having the post office open every morning during the week,” village mayor János Czinke told People’s word. Despite previous efforts, the village has been unable to find a business willing to take over postal operations. Now, residents must travel to Szulok for postal services, after the post office in the neighboring town of Lad was also closed by the state.
This situation is not unique, as seen in Borsodbóta, where Mayor János Gulyás revealed that the Hungarian Post had offered the municipality the option of managing the local post office earlier this year. However, the village has refused to take on this responsibility, noting that post offices are a state service. With two nearby offices already closed, Borsodbóta could be next, but the village is unable to take over operations due to financial constraints.
