Speech by President von der Leyen to the Hungarian National Assembly on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956

“Check against delivery”

Dear Honourable Speaker Forsthoffer,

Dear President Baka,

Dear Prime Minister Magyar,

Dear President Costa,

Dear Presidents,

Dear Prime Ministers,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Honourable Members,

70 years ago, on a bright, sunny afternoon, the young people of Hungary came together and changed the course of history. They rose, with peaceful intent, moral clarity, and astonishing bravery, to fight for freedom, for democracy, and for Europe. The reprisals were swift, and bloody. The Soviets sent tanks and troops against workers and students. But by the example of their courage, the martyrs of 1956 inspired hope. As Václav Havel once said: ‘Hope is definitely not the same thing as optimism. Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out.' That is what the world found in the pictures of Stalin's statue being toppled. The news of medical students tending the wounded. The voices of free Hungary broadcasting on the radio until the very end.

In those images, not for the first time, nor the last, Europe and the world looked to Hungary, and found hope. And let us ask ourselves, why did the Soviets act so brutally? With merciless repression, taking countless innocent lives. The answer is simple – they were afraid. Afraid of the people in whose names they claimed to act. Afraid that if the people of Hungary prevailed, the desire for democracy would spread. And afraid because they knew that while repression can survive only through more repression, freedom is a fire that catches.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Why do we gather to mark anniversaries like today's? We gather to grieve – for the tens of thousands of Hungarians killed or wounded. We gather in memory of those arrested, imprisoned, and executed in cold blood, some as young as 18. We gather to mourn the exiles, all 200 000 of them, who fled their homes – most never to return. But above all, we gather to say: we must never take their sacrifice in vain. The people of Hungary fought, against impossible odds, for the values of freedom, democracy, and justice that define our vision of Europe today. To vote freely. To speak and think freely. To live freely. To be governed without corruption. Those were not abstract demands for the young people who marched. They were a cause for which they gave their lives. Their memory reminds us that the triumph of democracy is not inevitable. History is not a straight road. Every generation must fight to renew our freedoms and to re-energise our democracy. That is the moral heart of this anniversary. That is the lesson we must always remember. And standing here today, I do not need to remind you of what it means to revive democracy.

Six months ago the people of Hungary voted for a new chapter. To turn the page on years of division, of trust eroded, freedoms rolled back, prosperity undermined. Eight in every ten Hungarians used their vote. Many for the first time. This was the single largest turnout since the end of Communist rule. That night people came together on the streets. Strangers hugged strangers. Not in a staged rally but a spontaneous release of joy – creative, hopeful, and real. And here on the banks of the Danube, where 70 years ago people marched and died, to create democracy in Hungary – that night, people danced and celebrated reviving democracy in Hungary. And this country once more sent to the world a message of hope. That democratic backsliding can be reversed. That disinformation and fearmongering can be defeated. That the future of democracy is in the hands of the people. And together, democracy will prevail.

So it is good to return to Hungary today, a country renewed. I personally feel very at home here. And I bring a simple message today. We are one family. Your story is our European story. Your future is our European future. You have placed your trust and your faith once more in our Union. And we are honouring that trust.

Prime Minister, dear Péter,

When we met just after the election, we agreed a common path forward. Hungary would fight corruption and restore the rule of law. And you have worked hard to deliver. You have strengthened rules to combat fraud and corruption. You have increased transparency on how public money is spent. You are joining the European Public Prosecutor's Office. You took these steps because the Hungarian people called for them. And these reforms bring real results. European funding is back. Access to Horizon Europe is restored. And all Hungarian students can once again take part in Erasmus. Finally! We missed them. There is more to come by the end of this year – from NextGenerationEU to funds linked to academic freedom. So, your hard work is paying off. Investor confidence is returning. And with Hungary's renewed commitment to our common future – Europe is stronger. Here today, to all of you writing this new chapter, on behalf of Europe I say: thank you.

Let me close with the words of a great friend of Hungary and a great European – Albert Camus. On the first anniversary of the revolution, he wrote these words, words which resonate as much today as they did then: ‘It is hard for us to be worthy of so much sacrifice. Yet we must try. Let us forget our quarrels, confront our mistakes, and strengthen our efforts and solidarity in a Europe finally united'. It took many decades and many more struggles, but Europe did unite. And has remained united. Our task is to keep Europe united. Now, and long into the future.

Thank you. Long live Hungary. Éljen Európa.