On Sunday, Hungarian independent parliamentary representative Ákos Hadházy publicly criticized Ruszin-Szendi Romulusz, the former chief of the Hungarian Defence Forces, who recently made an appearance at the Tisza Party's annual congress.

Hadházy asserted that under normal circumstances, Ruszin-Szendi would be expected to resign immediately based on available public information about his tenure.

Ruszin-Szendi, a general who was appointed as the commander of the Hungarian Army by then-President Áder János in 2021, was unexpectedly dismissed in 2023. The reason cited by official sources was that Ruszin-Szendi would continue serving the country in a different capacity.

During his presentation at the Tisza Party congress in February, Ruszin-Szendi criticized the government's military reforms over the past years and proposed a series of recommendations aimed at restructuring the armed forces.

In his Sunday morning statement, Hadházy outlined several reasons he believes Ruszin-Szendi is unfit for public office:

1. He served as a deputy state secretary in the government from 2019, during what Hadházy described as one of the darkest periods of the Orbán administration, before becoming head of the military.

2. Hadházy accused Ruszin-Szendi's leadership of being associated with unclear arms procurement processes within the military.

3. Under Ruszin-Szendi’s command, Hadházy claimed there were political purges within the military that resulted in the dismissal of approximately 2,000 officers without explanation.

4. Following his dismissal, Ruszin-Szendi reportedly made comments reinforcing narratives about the Russian conflict.

5. Hadházy also alleged that Ruszin-Szendi wasted millions of forints on unnecessary foreign trips.

In response to Hadházy's accusations, Peter Magyar, who defended Ruszin-Szendi, suggested that most of Hadházy's claims were not worth rebutting.

Magyar stated, "You have no idea why the general had to leave his position as chief of staff, nor do you know who decides on military procurements.

According to your logic, there should be no one heading the army in a bad political system."

Magyar further remarked that he and others trust the judgment of Ruszin-Szendi's subordinates, including those he progressed with in the military and those with whom he served in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Notably, he highlighted Ruszin-Szendi's recent service at the Ukrainian front, contrasting it with Hadházy's political commentary.

This exchange occurs amidst ongoing discussions about military reforms in Hungary and the implications of leadership changes within the armed forces, reflecting broader tensions in the country’s political environment.