Hungary’s new government launches major intelligence restructuring

Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar is carrying out a major restructuring of the country’s intelligence services, affecting both senior officials and middle-ranking officers, Intelligence Online reports.

According to the publication, at least six Hungarian officers working in European countries for the civilian foreign intelligence service (IH) and military intelligence service (KNBSZ) have been recalled to Budapest ahead of schedule. Some of them were involved in counterterrorism efforts.

The restructuring began after Magyar’s centre-right Tisza Party won the April elections.

On June 12, the government dismissed the heads of four intelligence services appointed under former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. They included the heads of counterintelligence, the IH foreign intelligence service, the NBSZ technical intelligence service and the KNBSZ military intelligence service.

In mid-May, Magyar appointed his former campaign manager, Péter Tóth, as national security adviser.

According to Intelligence Online, Tóth and a former counterintelligence officer identified as Buda are overseeing the large-scale restructuring of Hungary’s intelligence services.

By Sabina Mammadli