The Chamber of Deputies' Defense Committee unanimously supported the government's proposal to appoint Lieutenant General Miroslav Hlaváč as the new Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces. All members of the committee voted in favor of the proposal. Following this step, President Petr Pavel can now make the final decision on the appointment. Defense Minister Jaromír Zůna stated that the government proposes Hlaváč's appointment to take effect from July 1st. According to Czech Television, the actual appointment ceremony could take place on June 30th, with Hlaváč officially assuming his duties the following day.

Hlaváč is expected to replace the current Chief of the General Staff, Karel Řehka. The government approved his nomination on May 18th, at the proposal of the Minister of Defense. At the time, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš described Hlaváč as a natural choice, given his position as the first deputy to the Chief of the General Staff. Minister Zůna did not vote on the proposal in the government, but later stated that he respects the government's decision.

President Petr Pavel previously announced, through the Presidential Office, that he is prepared to appoint Hlaváč to the position. The Presidential Office stated that they consider him to be a good candidate, considering his previous experience in leading the General Staff, his command and military experience, his education, and his abilities.

Miroslav Hlaváč is one of the highest-ranking officers in the current Czech Armed Forces. According to the Ministry of Defense's annual report, he was listed as the first deputy to the Chief of the General Staff from August 1, 2023. Previously, he served as the deputy to the Chief of the General Staff and as the Chief of Staff.

In recent years, Hlaváč has also participated in discussions with foreign partners. In November 2025, he undertook a working visit to Israel, where he discussed the security situation, bilateral cooperation, training, and the sharing of experiences in the implementation of new technologies. At that time, the Czech side also discussed its experiences with the MADR and SPYDER air defense systems, as well as the transition to F-35 aircraft.

Hlaváč told members of parliament that he wants to build a modern army that will fulfill its alliance commitments. One of his priorities is the heavy brigade, which is one of the Czech Republic's key long-term commitments to NATO.

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