Hungarian government continues sacking hundreds of high-ranking military officers

In January, the government accepted a decree allowing to send even high-ranking military officers into retirement. Then media outlets reported about more than a hundred generals, lieutenant generals, major generals, etc., the defence minister has sacked. Based on the sources of the Válasz Online, the government will not stop. They are prepared to send away even more military officers, but the media outlet believes that is not an anti-NATO step.

More than 110 officers sent into retirement

Válasz Online, a Hungarian independent news outlet using only the donations of its readers, shared many details about the first wave of ‘grand sacking’ in the Hungarian Defence Forces. They also wrote some names in their recent article concerned with ‘forced retirement’. One of them, for example, is the deputy commander of the KFOR (Kosovo Force, the NATO’s biggest mission), brigadier general János Szpisják.

The online media outlet argues that the preparations for the first wave were carried out in complete secrecy. Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky held his reular ‘state of military’ speech on 17 January in Budapest’s illustrious Bálna event centre, near the Danube. There he talked about the importance of renewing the military staff to the press. Afterwards, he invited all the leading generals and military officers to a no-press follow-up on the building’s first floor and read out the names who will be dismissed.

Since the preparations were carried out in utter secrecy, nobody knew what to expect, and all were surprised to hear that the minister ‘beheaded’ the Hungarian Defence Forces. The number of concerned was above 110, including even the two deputy commanders of the Hungarian Defence Forces, lieutenant general Zsolt Sándor and major general Attila János Simon. Furthermore, Mr Szalay-Bobrovniczky dismissed most of the ministry’s department leaders.

• Read also: NATO will kick out Hungary for sacking ‘NATO friend officers’ from the Hungarian military?

The ‘purge’ will continue – here is how

However, the ‘purge’, or the rejuvenation, as minister Szalay-Bobrovniczky calls it, will not stop. The unit commanders are next who will rank their subordinates concerning the following points:

• professionalism
• international experience
• language knowledge
• physical state
• performance evaluation

The maximum number of points is 9. People getting at least six can remain in the military.

Válasz Online does not understand why the rejuvenation had to be carried out so quickly. They argue that even if somebody learns to use the latest technologies, they need experienced officers to integrate that knowledge and technology into a system. Moreover, there is a war in Hungary’s neighbourhood.

• Read also: Hundreds of high-ranking military officers sacked in Hungary

Uncertainty will harm the military

The media outlet asks how one can choose the career of becoming an military officer if they cannot be sure whether they can retire with dignity or will be sacked at the age of 45 and after their 25th year of service.

Ágnes Vadai, an MP of the opposition DK and a former secretary of defence, talked about firing NATO supporters from the military. However, the sources of Válasz Online said the opposite was true. The new generation of officers knows only the NATO standards, so they are ‘NATO-compatible.’ Moreover, the Alliance did not say a word about the Hungarian government’s relevant decision.

Read alsoHungary considers acquiring HIMARS missile systems

Source: Válasz Online