Prime Minister Péter Magyar has dismissed the heads of Hungary’s four principal national security agencies in one of the most significant personnel changes since his government took office.

The dismissals were published in Friday evening’s issue of the Hungarian Gazette and take effect on Saturday, 13 June, 444.hu reported.

Under the prime ministerial decisions, the following officials have been relieved of their duties:

  • Dr Krisztián Oláh, Director General of the Information Office (Információs Hivatal);
  • Dr Szabolcs Bárdos, Director General of the Constitution Protection Office (Alkotmányvédelmi Hivatal);
  • Dr Csaba Kiss, Director General of the Special Service for National Security (Nemzetbiztonsági Szakszolgálat);
  • Norbert Tajti, Director General of the Military National Security Service (Katonai Nemzetbiztonsági Szolgálat).

The government has not yet announced who will take over the leadership of the agencies.

Entire national security leadership replaced

News of changes within Hungary’s intelligence services had already begun to emerge earlier on Friday. Telex reported that Szabolcs Bárdos, who had led the Constitution Protection Office since October 2020, had been removed from his post.

Investigative journalist Szabolcs Panyi had also reported that the heads of other civilian intelligence agencies, including the Information Office and the Special Service for National Security, were expected to be dismissed.

The latest government decrees have now confirmed that all four agency chiefs have been replaced simultaneously.

New advisory structure taking shape

The dismissals come just one day after it emerged that Péter Buda, a former intelligence officer, national security analyst and recognised expert on Russian hybrid warfare, would assume a senior professional leadership role alongside national security chief adviser Péter Tóth.

According to Buda, his responsibilities will include providing professional guidance and strategic planning in national security matters, as well as ensuring the objective synthesis of information received from the relevant agencies and organisations. He said the work would be carried out with the support of a team of specialists.

Part of a bigger government overhaul

The intelligence shake-up is the latest in a series of leadership changes across Hungary’s security and law enforcement institutions since the change of government.

In recent weeks, numerous officials appointed during previous Orbán administrations have been removed from their positions. Interior Minister Gábor Pósfai recently replaced the head of the Rapid Response Police, while new leaders have also been appointed to Hungary’s disaster management authority and prison service.

Earlier this month, both the national police chief and the Budapest police chief were relieved of their duties as part of the government’s restructuring efforts.

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