The Parliamentary Defence Committee unanimously approved the appointment of General Kundid as the new Chief of the CAF General Staff

The Defence Committee of the Croatian Parliament, at its session held on Friday, 1 March 2024, gave a unanimous positive opinion on the proposal of the Government of the Republic of Croatia to appoint LTG Tihomir Kundid as the new Chief of the CAF General Staff.

Also, at the same session, the Parliamentary Committee supported the proposal of the Government of the Republic of Croatia to release Admiral Robert Hranj from the position of the Chief of the CAF General Staff due to termination of his mandate.

On this occasion, Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Croatia and Minister of Defence Ivan Anušić said that the procedure for release and appointment of the Chief of the CAF General Staff is prescribed by the Defence Act.

“At yesterday’s session, in accordance with the prescribed legal procedure, the Government of the Republic of Croatia approved the proposal for release of the former Chief of the CAF General Staff, Admiral Robert Hranj, due to termination of his mandate and the proposal for appointment of LTG Tihomir Kundid as the new Chief of the CAF General Staff,” the Minister said. He also emphasised that LTG Tihomir Kundid is currently serving as Commander of the Croatian Army, the largest service of the Croatian Armed Forces, that he participated in the Homeland War and that he held a number of commanding positions in the Croatian Armed Forces, for which he was promoted in his professional career, decorated and commended.

The Minister congratulated General Kundid, the forthcoming Chief of the CAF General Staff, for everything he had done and expressed his satisfaction with the responsibility and understanding the seriousness of the situation regarding the appointment of the Chief of the CAF General Staff. “When we talk about politics, this appointment was agreed upon without any complications as it is expected by the Croatian Armed Forces and the Croatian public. We are aware how serious this duty that the LTG will perform for the next four years is,” the Minister said. Minister Anušić said that he regards that a good job has been done and concluded: “All of us together, the General and I, as a Minister, together with the Government of the Republic of Croatia, are going to deal with what is essential for the CAF at this moment, which is modernisation and manning of the CAF”.

Article 7, paragraph 1, point 8 of the Defence Act stipulates that the Chief of the CAF General Staff is appointed by President of the Republic at proposal of the Government and after obtaining the opinion of the Defence Committee of the Croatian Parliament. Also, Article 7, paragraph 1, point 9 of the Defence Act stipulates that the President of the Republic releases from duties the Chief of the CAF General Staff directly or at proposal of the Government and after obtaining the opinion of the Defence Committee of the Croatian Parliament.

After obtaining positive opinion of the Parliamentary Committee, the proposal for appointment of General Kundid as the new Chief of the General Staff is sent to the President of the Republic of Croatia and Commander-in-Chief of the CAF, who makes the decision on the appointment.

Afterwards, the change of command between the former Chief of the CAF General Staff, Admiral Robert Hranj and the newly elected General Kundid will be carried out.

Biography of General Tihomir Kundid

Lieutenant General Tihomir Kundid is the newly appointed Chief of the CAF General Staff. He is former Commander of the Croatian Army.

General Kundid was born in 1969 in Varaždin. He graduated from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and he also completed postgraduate studies at the Faculty of Organization and Informatics of the University of Zagreb. He also completed the Advanced Officer Course as the best student, the Command and Staff School, the Ban Josip Jelačić War College and from the Canadian Forces Language School.

In December 1990 he voluntarily joined the defence of the Republic of Croatia and in 1991 he became a member of the Special Police of the Croatian Ministry of the Interior. Afterwards, he joined the 2nd Guards Brigade where he remained until 2007. In the 2nd Guards Brigade he held a number of responsible and commanding positions.

During his career, he was commended and awarded several times. He has received a number of decorations and medals for his professional performance of tasks and for above-average results in his work: the Homeland War Commemorative Decoration, the Homeland Gratitude Commemorative Decoration for 5 and 15 years of meritorious service, the Order of Croatian Braid, the Order of Croatian Trefoil, the Order of Ban Josip Jelačić, the Order of Nikola Šubić Zrinski, Medal for Participation in Operation Flash, Medal for Participation in Operation Storm, Medal for Extraordinary Ventures, the Croatian Army Gold Medal and Medal for Assistance to Civilian Institutions.