Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban delivered a speech in Kiskoros on 15 March, the 175th anniversary of the outbreak of Hungary's Revolution and War of Independence of 1848-49.

When a foreigner looks at the life of Sandor Petofi, who was born 200 years ago, he can hardly believe what he sees, Viktor Orban began his speech, referring to the life of the famous 19th century Hungarian poet. The premier recalled the life of the national poet: how he grew from a weak child to an internationally renowned poet who sparked the Hungarian Revolution of 1848 and brought freedom to the country. As the premier said, „He became a soldier in the fight for freedom and then fell during the resistance at the age of 26. His wish was fulfilled: death did not come to him while in bed amongst pillows, but on the battlefield.”

„A spark, followed and admired with bated breath by his own nation. We Hungarians, unlike foreigners, see no mystery here. A Hungarian fate, we would say. He was one of us who rose above us. We could hardly emulate what he did. Sandor Petofi is our beloved son. There is no need to say: there is a little Petofi in every Hungarian, and there is a little of all Hungarians in Petofi,” PM Orban said.

„Regaining our nation’s self-respect and restoring its sense of self: this is the Hungarian nation’s programme for the next 25 years,”

he recalled the most important objectives of Petőfi’s time and noted that these were finally fulfilled. „Hungary has raised many brilliant talents in science and literature. We regulated our rivers and built railways,” the premier listed the achievements of the Reform Era [1825-1848]. This was not enough for the Hungarians, although it would have been enough for a citizen of Vienna or Berlin, the prime minister noted.

„We know that there must be an overarching vocation. What would be the world-changing deed, the soul-lifting mission that was worth standing up for? What are we to do with our regained self-esteem, our multiplied strength?”

PM Orban said, referring to the question that Hungarians asked themselves after the Reform Era. Mid-19th century Hungary and her people were in a state of suspense over their personal fates, and that of the country, as they awaited to see the direction they were taking, he added.

Petofi provided the answer to these questions, the premier opined.

„Arise Magyar, your country calls! […] Shall we be slaves? Shall we be free?”

Mr Orban cited one of the most famous poems of Petofi, adding that „Long live an independent and free Hungary! Glory to the Youth of March!”

Viktor Orban also said that it might be hard for non-Hungarians to understand why Hungarians have been retelling to each other the story of this day on 15 March for 175 years. People from other nations might ask „how is that the Hungarians are not bored by this yet?” Viktor Orban said that

Hungarians are not bored with the story because it is a birthday, marking the birth of Hungarian freedom.

The Hungarian premier said that respect is also due to the parents who gave birth to and brought up significant Hungarian historical figures, such as Sandor Petofi. He remarked that Hungarians experience their emotions through poetry.

„In us Hungarians, love, joy and sorrow mature into poetry and song. We Hungarians inhabit this land in a poetic manner, even though life here is often very prosaic.”

he said, adding that Petofi also lived that way. „He lived for only 26 years, and of them only 5 was available for real creation. He wrote poetry the way we mere mortals breathe. He translated, he wrote, he edited. Only five years, but Petofi’s oeuvre is still complete,” he said. Petofi created a world for himself that is clear, straightforward, where there is no transitional grey zone behind things, PM Orban said. As he put it:

„If we settle for less and worse than we could be, we become unworthy of ourselves, because we are not just anyone, we are Hungarians. To be born Hungarian is a duty, and we must be worthy of our kind. Petofi teaches us the lesson every day: slavery or freedom, we can choose.”

the prime minister said. He added that the poet wanted to be a free and happy citizen of a free Hungary, just as we want to be.

„The great Hungarian march for freedom, although it has sometimes taken detours and sometimes even reached dead ends over the past 200 years, it still continues today. Sandor Petofi is with us in this march, we can be sure of that even if we don’t see him. We see him rebelling when foreigners try to tell Hungarians how to live. We see him standing up to the powerful people of the world who want to reintegrate the Hungarians into a European superstate. We owe him. That’s why we will never allow the flag of freedom to be wrenched from the hands of Hungarians. We will not allow it, and they will not succeed, because every Hungarian has a little Petofi in them.”

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said, concluding his speech.

Earlier, the Hungarian premier wrote a letter of greetings to the Hungarian communities beyond the country’s borders on the occasion of the national holiday.

„We strive for peace and we are on the side of peace. We consider it our moral duty to do our utmost to silence the guns, as this is the only way that can guarantee the safety and well-being of Hungarians in the Carpathian basin today.”

„Let there be peace, freedom and harmony,” Viktor Orban concluded his letter.