French President Emmanuel Macron will not attend Hungary’s 70th anniversary commemorations of the 1956 Revolution, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to deliver a speech in Budapest.
Macron’s visit was never officially confirmed by France
French President Emmanuel Macron will not attend Hungary’s state commemorations marking the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Revolution on 23 October, the French Embassy in Budapest has confirmed to Telex.
The embassy said Macron would not take part in the commemorations, adding that his possible visit to Budapest had never been officially confirmed by the French side.
The announcement comes after Prime Minister Péter Magyar said in an interview with Hungarian YouTube channel Partizán last week that several foreign leaders, including Macron, would travel to Hungary for the anniversary.
Although earlier reports suggested the French president had agreed to attend, the embassy’s statement has now claimed otherwise. It also raises the question: how did the potential visit come to be reported before France had officially confirmed it?
It is likely that Macron will not be coming to Budapest due to the unrest in France.
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Von der Leyen to address the Budapest ceremony
While Macron will be absent, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is set to attend the 23 October commemorations in Budapest and deliver a speech, according to 24.hu, citing information provided by the European Commission.
Von der Leyen is expected to arrive in the Hungarian capital on Friday. She had originally been scheduled to attend a summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, but that event was postponed, making her Budapest appearance possible.
Zelensky will also miss the anniversary
Magyar previously said that virtually every head of state and government had been invited to the event, with Russian President Vladimir Putin the exception. Speaking to 444.hu, the prime minister said he could not recall whether the number of invited politicians was 100 or 150.
Macron is not the only prominent foreign leader who will be absent. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was also invited, but Magyar has said he will not attend.
The 1956 Revolution began as a popular uprising against Soviet rule and became a defining symbol of the country’s struggle for freedom and independence.
Hungary prepares for large-scale commemorations
The government is organising an expanded, day-long programme for the 70th anniversary, with events planned both in Budapest and elsewhere in the country. In the capital, activities are expected to take place at several prominent locations, including Kossuth Square, Andrássy Avenue, the river embankments and Bem Square.