MILITARY TRAINING BASE AT TAPOLCA CLOSED DOWN

The Hungarian army closes down its last training centre and the training of the volunteers will be deployed in Szentedre though more than HUF 200 million was spent for the renovation of the Tapolca base last year.

According to the Ministry of Defence it has turned out only now that the base does not work to its optimal capacity. Fidesz finds the decision a grave mistake and it can be expected that NATO will condemn the decision. In consequence of the lay-off about 300 officers and non-commissioned officers must be also dismissed. At first the training base at Szabadszállás, then the one at Szombathely were closed down. István Simicskó MP (Fidesz) claims the decision is shocking as in Szentendre there is only a school for non-commissioned officers, not suitable for the training of active soldiers. The mayor of Tapolca also deplores the decision because several hundred persons lose their jobs and Ferenc Juhász, Minister of Defence has promised this year to develop the base and facilitate a housing programme for soldiers garrisoned in Tapolca.

Translated by Péter Szentmihályi Szabó