New commander of the Hungarian Armed Forces approved by parliament – UPDATED

Lieutenant Colonel Gábor Böröndi, who was nominated for Commander of the Hungarian Armed Forces last week, said at his hearing before parliament’s defence and law enforcement committee that his main aim would be the “mental renewal” of the Armed Forces, as well as setting up a capable, committed force that is “operational within NATO too.”

Lieutenant General Gábor Böröndi, who has been nominated as the next Commander of the Hungarian Armed Forces, is the right person to upgrade the military’s capabilities from a tactical to an operational level, the defence minister said on Tuesday. Speaking to the media after Böröndi’s hearing before parliament’s defence and law enforcement committee, Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said both he and the government were expecting a protracted war in Ukraine. The Hungarian government is in favour of a ceasefire and peace, but the country, in a military sense, must be prepared for a protracted conflict on Europe’s eastern border, he added.

The Hungarian Armed Forces must be prepared for this, the minister said, adding that in line with the principle of “having the right people in the right place at the right time”, he had proposed that Böröndi lead the military from the tactical to the operational level. The Hungarian Armed Forces, as a member of NATO, must put its new equipment into service, develop new combat procedures as well as a new organisational culture on its way to reaching a new state of combat readiness, Szalay-Bobrovniczky said. The minister thanked Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi, who last week was relieved of his duties as Commander of the Hungarian Armed Forces, for his work, saying he had put the military “on a new path” over the last two years.

Meanwhile, he underlined Böröndi’s “outstanding” military career, noting he had served as deputy army commander and most recently had represented Hungary in NATO. This, he said, meant that Böröndi had the deepest and most up-to-date knowledge of and relations with the defence alliance. Szalay-Bobrovniczky also underlined the importance of Hungary’s role given its geographical position and ongoing military upgrade in NATO’s “biggest ever adaptation process”. Following the hearing, Böröndi expressed thanks for the appointment, saying he considered it “a task and a responsibility”

Now that there is a war going on next to Hungary’s borders, the Hungarian Armed Forces needs to be upgraded and transformed into a capable and committed military that is capable of operating within NATO. Böröndi said there was a lot to do, “but the team is good” and the officers were well-trained. He also emphasised the importance of bringing the military closer to young people and retaining them. Lajos Kosa, the (Fidesz) head of the committee, said the body supported Böröndi’s appointment as army chief with 8 votes in favour and one abstention.