Hungary's defence minister: Péter Magyar picks former Chief of the General Staff Ruszin-Szendi

Lieutenant General Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi is set to become Hungary's defence minister. After the first meeting of the parliamentary group, the leader of the Tisza party, Péter Magyar, presented the first seven ministers of his future Tisza government – among them the designated head of the defence ministry. The post will go to the former Chief of the General Staff, the future prime minister announced.

On social media, Ruszin-Szendi expressed his thanks and then addressed a message directly to the soldiers and officers of the Hungarian Defence Forces: “My first and most important goal is clear: to restore the morale of the troops. We are putting the soldiers and everyone committed to national defence at the centre. The strength of an army is measured not only by its resources, but also by its soldiers, their attitude, their faith and their unity.”

From youngest Chief of the General Staff to Hungary's defence minister

At the age of 48, Lieutenant General Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi was appointed Commander and Chief of the General Staff of the Hungarian Defence Forces (Magyar Honvédség) by then President János Áder in June 2021. No commander-in-chief in Hungary's history had been younger. His term was scheduled to run until May 2026.

In April 2023, President Katalin Novák unexpectedly removed him from office. After 28 years of active service, he left the armed forces two months later. He was not the only one affected: hundreds of officers were dismissed as part of a “rejuvenation programme” led by Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky.

Why Ruszin-Szendi had to go is still disputed today. According to the official account, he had concentrated too heavily on the tactical level, while experience from the war in Ukraine had shown that operational expertise was needed as well. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán later spoke publicly of a political decision.