Hungary marks the Day of National Cohesion on 4 June with commemorations across the country, as many public figures, including Prime Minister Péter Magyar, President Tamás Sulyok and Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony reflected on the legacy of the Treaty of Trianon, national unity and the future of Hungarian communities beyond the country’s borders.

The annual remembrance day commemorates the signing of the Treaty of Trianon in 1920, under which Hungary lost around two-thirds of its territory following the First World War. Parliament designated 4 June as the Day of National Cohesion in 2010.

Péter Magyar during Day of National Cohesion: “There are no worse or better Hungarians”

Speaking at Kossuth Square in Budapest after the national flag was raised in front of Parliament, Prime Minister Péter Magyar described Trianon as “the most difficult moment in Hungarian history”, adding that its consequences still weigh heavily on the nation more than a century later. “Everyone is Hungarian who identifies as Hungarian, thinks and dreams in Hungarian and loves being Hungarian, no matter where they live in the world,” the prime minister said.

Magyar emphasised in his Day of National Cohesion speech that all Hungarians, whether living inside or outside the country’s borders, belong to a single national community. “There are no worse or better Hungarians, only Hungarians,” he declared, stressing that Hungarian leaders have a duty to stand up for all members of the nation.

The prime minister also referred to the recent parliamentary election, saying voters had demonstrated that “there is far more that unites than what divides us and that love and peace are stronger than power struggles.” “Now, we must build the country where not only we love our homeland but it also loves us back,” he added.

Focus on minority rights in Transcarpathia

A central theme of Magyar’s speech was the situation of ethnic Hungarians living abroad, particularly in Ukraine’s Transcarpathia region. Calling it an “enormous achievement”, he welcomed a recent agreement that he said would restore key minority rights to the region’s Hungarian community.

According to the prime minister, ethnic Hungarians in Transcarpathia will be able to preserve and develop their linguistic, cultural and religious identity, study in their mother tongue, use Hungarian when dealing with authorities and freely celebrate Hungarian national holidays.

“Around 100,000 of our compatriots are regaining their fundamental rights and the hope of passing on the identity they received from their parents and grandparents,” Magyar said. He also voiced concern over the continued application of the Beneš decrees in Slovakia, arguing that some ethnic Hungarians still face property confiscations based on measures adopted after the Second World War.

In case you missed it: Péter Magyar claims sweeping deal struck with Ukraine

Stronger regional cooperation

Magyar linked Hungary’s future success to regional cooperation and stronger alliances in Central Europe. “The Hungarian people know that Hungary can only be successful if it is a strong ally and a reliable partner,” he said.

The prime minister announced that Budapest will host a meeting of the Visegrád Group prime ministers on 23 June, describing it as a step towards reviving cooperation among the Central European countries. He also suggested that the alliance could be broadened in the future to include additional regional partners. “A strong Central Europe is key for a strong Hungary,” he said.

Concluding his address, Magyar stressed that Hungarian identity transcends borders. “Hungary’s heart beats in every Hungarian,” he said, before ending with the words: “God bless Hungary, God bless every Hungarian across the world.” Earlier in the day, he also posted a brief message on Facebook: “God bless every Hungarian on the Day of National Cohesion!”

Read more: Péter Magyar vows to be a reliable EU partner in Berlin, raises prospect of V4 expansion, and summit with Zelensky as Chancellor Merz pledges support

Other leaders call for unity

President Tamás Sulyok also marked the occasion, highlighting the bonds that connect Hungarians around the world. “Our history stretching back over a thousand years, our mother tongue, our rich traditions and our shared values bind us, Hungarians, together, both within and beyond the borders,” he wrote on Facebook. He urged citizens to “cherish and protect each other and our Hungarian identity”.

Meanwhile, Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony focused on overcoming present-day divisions within Hungarian society. In a video message, he said “we cannot obliterate the historical weight of the Trianon decision 106 years ago, but we can heal division, our self-inflicted Trianon”.

Karácsony argued that national cohesion depends on recognising that “there is no such thing as Budapest or rural Hungary, only Budapest and rural Hungary”. He described the capital as “the city of bridges” and concluded: “Hungary is our common home, regardless of where we live, what we believe in, or how we love.”

Have you heard? Political clash in Hungary, as President Sulyok refuses to resign after Magyar’s call