SMALLEST ARMY OF ALL TIMES

More than three thousand men are missing from the effective force of the Hungarian Army to achieve peace-footing but there is no money to bring up units to full strength – this has turned out from a visit in a garrison in Székesfehérvár made by the opposition members of the parliamentary committee for defence.

The permitted strength of land forces is 13 027 but the army is only 9963 strong. István Simicska MP (Fidesz) found it shocking that in spite of the great expenses of trying to recruit volunteers the government operated the smallest Hungarian army of all times while István Bocskai, spokesman of the Ministry of Defence said they did not wish to increase the strength of land forces, they only wanted to substitute people who left the army and the recruiting campaign of last year served only to ensure a continuous reserve.

Translated by Péter Szentmihályi Szabó