National flag of Hungary raised marking anniversary the Revolution of 1956
Hungary commemorated the 69th anniversary of the 1956 Revolution and War of Independence on Thursday morning with a solemn flag-raising ceremony held in front of the Parliament Building on Kossuth Lajos Square in Budapest.
The national flag was hoisted to the sounds of the Hungarian anthem by the ceremonial guard of the Hungarian Defence Forces, with the Central Military Band and the 32nd Guards Regiment also taking part in the event.
The ceremony was attended by Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky and Chief of the Defence Staff General Gábor Böröndi, along with representatives of military and state institutions.
Peaceful demonstrations turned into a fight against the oppressor
The 1956 uprising, which began as a peaceful student demonstration before escalating into an armed revolt, remains one of the defining moments of Hungary’s modern history.
The revolution was a bold stand against the Soviet-backed communist dictatorship of Mátyás Rákosi. In 1991, the Hungarian Parliament declared 23 October an official national holiday, a status later reaffirmed in the 2012 Fundamental Law.
Marking the occasion abroad, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó attended a reception in Washington, D.C., organised by the Hungarian Embassy. In his address, he paid tribute to the heroes of 1956, emphasising that the Hungarian people sent a clear message to the world nearly seven decades ago: they would never surrender their freedom or sovereignty. Szijjártó said:
The heroes of 1956 wanted a free and independent Hungary. They showed that dictatorship has no roots or tradition in our country, and that there is immense strength in national unity.
He added that although the revolution was brutally crushed, the courage of those who fought laid the groundwork for Hungary to eventually regain its freedom and independence in 1990.
Remembering the ones who fought for independence
The minister also expressed gratitude to those who lost their lives or were forced to flee Hungary during the communist era, and praised the Hungarian communities around the world for keeping their heritage alive.
He highlighted in particular the Hungarians who settled in the United States after 1956, noting their contributions to their adopted country while preserving their love for freedom and their national identity.
Szijjártó went on to stress that, although the struggle for freedom today takes a different form, it remains just as vital. “The values linked to our nation, faith, and heritage are still under attack,” he warned, adding that Hungary stands united with the United States in defending shared principles of freedom, peace, and security.
He also remarked that while communism has been defeated, its ideological successors continue to promote a “post-national” and “post-Christian” world. “There are still forces trying to convince us that we do not need a homeland, that we should not be proud of it, or believe in God. We must resist these ideas — and we do,” he said.
Szijjártó concluded by reaffirming that the Hungarian government considers it a core duty to protect the sovereignty and security of both the nation and its families, while also praising the current strength of Hungarian–American relations, noting that the two nations stand as allies in the fight for freedom, peace, and shared values.