President relieves army commander Korom of duties

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

Ader 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.

The defence ministry told MTI that it was Korom who had asked Defence Minister Tibor Benko 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 Szekesfehervar, 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.