Hungary has once again sent a message of hope to the world, making clear that democratic backsliding can be reversed, that disinformation and fearmongering can be defeated, and that the future of democracy lies in the hands of the people — Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, declared on Friday at a commemorative ceremony held in the Parliament building in Budapest, on the 70th anniversary of the 1956 revolution and freedom fight.
Von der Leyen emphasised that the victory of democracy is not inevitable and that history does not follow a straight path. “Every generation must fight its own struggle to rekindle freedom and democracy. In a moral sense, this is the heart and soul of this anniversary. The lesson we must never forget,” she declared.
She recalled the toppling of the Stalin statue, the medical students who tended to the wounded, and the radio that broadcast the voice of a free Hungary until the very end. She commemorated the young people who were executed and the 200,000 Hungarian refugees.
“The Hungarian people fought against all odds for freedom, democracy, and justice, and stood up for values that define our vision of Europe today: free elections, freedom of speech and freedom of thought, a free life, and governance free of corruption,” she said. As she put it, “Hungarians do not need to be told what it means to rekindle democracy.”
Von der Leyen recalled that six months ago, Hungarians chose a new chapter. “They voted to move beyond years of division, loss of trust, the erosion of freedoms, and the undermining of prosperity,” she said. Eight out of ten Hungarians voted, she highlighted — the highest turnout since the change of regime. She recalled the celebrants on the banks of the Danube, where revolutionaries died in 1956.
She spoke of Hungary’s rebirth. “We are one family. Your story is also our European story. Your future is also our European future,” she declared.
Von der Leyen stressed that reforms in Hungary are delivering real results, and that the country is once again able to draw on European funds. She recalled that she and Prime Minister Péter Magyar had reached an agreement on fighting corruption and restoring the rule of law. The government has tightened rules against fraud and corruption, made the use of public funds more transparent, and Hungary is joining the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, she listed.
She highlighted that the Horizon Europe programme is once again accessible, and that Hungarian students can participate in the Erasmus programme once more. “Finally! We have missed them very much,” she added. Further developments are expected by the end of the year — from the NextGenerationEU (NGEU) EU recovery fund to funds linked to academic freedom, she said.
“Serious efforts are bearing fruit. Investor confidence is growing. And thanks to Hungary’s renewed commitment to our common future, Europe is stronger too,” von der Leyen stated.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” she said, addressing — on behalf of Europe — all those taking part in the new chapter of Hungary’s story.
At the end of her speech, she quoted from Albert Camus’s essay The Blood of the Hungarians: “It is difficult for us to be worthy of so much sacrifice. But we must try, forgetting our disputes, revising our mistakes, multiplying our efforts, our solidarity in a finally united Europe.”
“Our task is to ensure that Europe’s unity endures. Now, and for a long time to come,” she declared, before closing with the words: “Long live Hungary! Long live Europe!”
Artificial intelligence was used for the translation of parts of the original Hungarian text.