Hungary’s Foreign Minister, Anita Orbán, has announced the recall of 37 heads of diplomatic missions as part of what she described as a comprehensive renewal of the country’s foreign service.

In a video published on Facebook on Friday, the minister said the Foreign Ministry was beginning a huge overhaul of Hungary’s diplomatic leadership, with some ambassadors completing their mandates while others are being replaced to better reflect the government’s new foreign policy priorities.

Diplomats to be replaced under new foreign policy priorities

According to Orbán, the personnel changes are intended to ensure that Hungary’s interests are represented abroad by ambassadors who can “credibly and effectively” implement the country’s updated foreign policy agenda. She did not disclose which ambassadors or diplomatic missions are affected by the decision.

Heads of mission include ambassadors and consuls general leading Hungary’s embassies, permanent representations and other diplomatic missions abroad. They are responsible for representing the Hungarian state, conducting bilateral negotiations and protecting the country’s national interests overseas.

Professional diplomatic corps a key objective

The large-scale personnel reshuffle forms part of the reform of the Foreign Ministry aimed at strengthening Hungary’s diplomatic service. Orbán said the ministry’s objective is to build a professional diplomatic corps operating to the highest professional standards. As part of the reform, a new Deputy State Secretariat for Human Strategy and Training has already begun operating.

The ministry also plans to modernise its recruitment system and introduce continuous professional training for diplomats. “The goal is for diplomacy to once again become a true profession,” the foreign minister said.

Latest step in diplomatic changes

The announcement follows earlier changes made by Orbán since taking office. In May, she recalled Hungary’s ambassador to Poland, saying the move reflected a new chapter in Hungarian-Polish relations and the government’s intention to rebuild bilateral cooperation on new foundations.

More recently, Hungary’s ambassador to Bulgaria also concluded his diplomatic posting. The recall of 37 mission heads represents the most extensive personnel change in Hungary’s diplomatic network since the new government took office.

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