The dismissals were published in Friday evening's edition of the Hungarian Gazette and came into effect on Saturday, 13 June, according to reporting by 444.hu.

The four officials relieved of their duties are Dr Krisztián Oláh, Director General of the Information Office (Információs Hivatal); Dr Szabolcs Bárdos, Director General of the Constitution Protection Office (Alkotmányvédelmi Hivatal); Dr Csaba Kiss, Director General of the Special Service for National Security (Nemzetbiztonsági Szakszolgálat); and Norbert Tajti, Director General of the Military National Security Service (Katonai Nemzetbiztonsági Szolgálat).

The government has not yet announced who will assume leadership of these agencies.

Signs Emerged Earlier in the Day

Indications that changes were afoot within Hungary's intelligence services had already surfaced earlier on Friday.

Telex reported that Szabolcs Bárdos, who had led the Constitution Protection Office since October 2020, had been removed from his position.

Investigative journalist Szabolcs Panyi had also reported that the heads of other civilian intelligence agencies, including the Information Office and the Special Service for National Security, were expected to be dismissed. The government decrees published that evening confirmed that all four agency chiefs had been replaced at once.

A New Advisory Structure Takes Shape

The dismissals follow news from the previous day that Péter Buda, a former intelligence officer, national security analyst, and recognised expert on Russian hybrid warfare, would take on a senior professional leadership role alongside national security chief adviser Péter Tóth.

According to Buda, his responsibilities will include providing professional guidance and strategic planning on national security matters, as well as ensuring the objective synthesis of information received from the relevant agencies and organisations.

He indicated that the work would be carried out with the support of a team of specialists.

Part of a Broader Government Restructuring

The intelligence shake-up represents the latest in a series of leadership changes across Hungary's security and law enforcement institutions since the change of government.

In recent weeks, numerous officials appointed during previous Orbán administrations have been removed from their positions.

Interior Minister Gábor Pósfai recently replaced the head of the Rapid Response Police, while new leaders have also been appointed to Hungary's disaster management authority and prison service.

Earlier this month, both the national police chief and the Budapest police chief were relieved of their duties as part of the government's restructuring efforts.

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