The President relieved the commander of the Hungarian Army – here is why

President János Áder has relieved Ferenc Korom of his duties as commander of the Hungarian armed forces, according to a decree published in the official gazette Magyar Közlöny on Wednesday.

Korom’s relief has been proposed by the defence minister and will take effect on June 1, in line with the decree.

Áder appointed Lieutenant General Ferenc Korom as commander of the army on January 15 in 2019. His term was to run until May 15 in 2023.

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According to hvg.hu, there was no justification about the president’s decision in the Magyar Közlöny.

However, later today the Ministry of Defense issued a statement in which they cleared that it was Korom who had asked Defence Minister Tibor Benkő for his relief citing full and successful completion of tasks assigned to him in 2018. These tasks included separating the Hungarian army from the defence ministry and moving it to a new headquarters in Székesfehérvár, in western Hungary, and the restructuring of the armed forces. The tasks also included preparing the modernisation of the armed forces and an upgrade of military hardware.

Korom as chief of staff also performed an excellent command of the army in tasks related to pandemic defence, the ministry said in a statement.

“Chief of staff Korom expressed the view that new tasks faced by the Hungarian Armed forces require a different type of leader. At the same time, he plans to continue using his experience and knowledge in the service of Hungary abroad,” the ministry said in the statement, adding that no decision has been made yet on Korom’s replacement.

Source: MTI, hvg.hu