Brigadier General Tamás Mecser received the backing of Parliament’s Defence and Law Enforcement Committee on Wednesday after presenting his vision for Hungary’s police force as the government’s nominee for national police commissioner.
Addressing lawmakers, Mecser said public security is a state service that must be provided equally to all citizens, requiring what he described as a human-centred and results-oriented police organization. He said the guiding principles of such a force should be integrity, humanity and full respect for the rule of law, while also adapting the organization to the challenges of a changing world.
Mecser stressed that every member of the police force, regardless of rank, plays an equally important role in fulfilling the organization’s mission.
Among his priorities, he highlighted stabilizing and expanding personnel numbers, strengthening officer and non-commissioned officer recruitment, and reinforcing local police departments, which he described as the first point of contact between citizens and law enforcement. He also called for a stronger police presence in public spaces, enhanced rapid-response units and reforms to the training system. The nominee acknowledged that the police service faces staffing shortages across virtually all areas of operation, adding that employee departures accelerated following changes to retirement regulations. According to Mecser, the long-term solution lies in creating a genuine career model that offers stability and prospects for police officers.
Reflecting on his career, he noted that he began his service in Kazincbarcika before working in the Edelény district and later serving as criminal deputy chief and acting chief at the Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County Police Headquarters. He subsequently led the Heves County Police Headquarters. He said much of his professional experience was gained in regions facing some of Hungary’s most significant criminal challenges, where police performance was judged primarily on investigative results rather than statistics.
Committee members, including István Simicskó and Árpád Takács, asked whether he supported extending the contracts of border hunter units and maintaining the Counter Terrorism Centre (TEK).
Mecser responded that such decisions fall within the political sphere but said he would welcome as many border hunters as possible into the regular police force. He also emphasized the importance of cooperation with neighbouring countries on border protection issues.
Regarding TEK, he praised the organization’s personnel and said they would continue to enjoy strong professional cooperation within the wider law enforcement community.
During the hearing, Interior Ministry State Secretary Gábor Tóth formally presented Mecser’s nomination.
Előd Novák criticized Tóth, linking him to police leadership during the 2006 protests. Tóth rejected the accusation, arguing that criminal investigation and public order operations are separate areas of responsibility and that a criminal deputy police chief had no authority over crowd-control decisions.
Responding to questions about TEK’s future, Tóth said the aim of integrating the organization into the national police structure is to improve efficiency by unifying protective services under a single command system. He stressed that the government does not intend to dismantle the operational capabilities or technical expertise developed by TEK over the past 15 years.
The committee ultimately endorsed Mecser’s appointment by seven votes in favour, with Előd Novák abstaining.
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