In his speech on the 177th anniversary of the 1848-49 Hungarian Revolution and War of Independence, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban emphasized Hungary's unwavering commitment to freedom. Orban outlined the country's demands from Brussels in 12 points, referencing the historic 12 points from 1848. His message called for peace, freedom, and unity.

Viktor Orban stated that European leaders have decided that Ukraine must continue the war at any cost, with the promise of fast-track EU membership at the expense of other countries. “We want unity, but without Ukraine,” the Hungarian PM told crowds in Budapest gathered for the commemoration on March 15.

He emphasized that Hungarian people were not consulted on the issue of war, but that Ukraine’s EU accession cannot be decided without them. He firmly stated that European decisions cannot ignore Hungary.

The PM reminded listeners that a year ago, the question was whether people were willing to sacrifice their lives for Ukraine; today, the issue is whether the financial burden of Ukraine’s accession is worth it.

„Friends, let’s go and make our voices heard!” the prime minister encouraged his supporters.

On the Side of Peace

He highlighted that Hungary had stayed out of the conflict and remained on the side of peace. He argued that major powers are exploiting Ukraine’s vulnerability for their own purposes, seeking to colonize the country, using war as a tool. Mr Orban declared that Hungary’s idea of freedom is deeply rooted, built on a thousand-year-old foundation, and will endure for a long time. „The spirit of the Hungarian struggle for freedom is intertwined with March 15 and Pest-Buda. On this day in 1848, the concept of Hungarian freedom took form, and for Hungarians, it remains sacred and indispensable as long as a single Hungarian lives on Earth,” he said, paying tribute to the heroes.

He noted that for years, people have been saying that Hungary is part of the past. They said that the future belongs to the Austrian Empire, then they said to the Soviet Union, and now what they are saying is that it belongs to the global „rainbow empire.” However, he pointed out that on the other side of the Atlantic, the tide has turned: it has become clear that the future does not belong to empires but to national-minded communities and independent nations.

Hungarian Freedom Fighters

Mr Orban reminded that although Hungary is often said to be isolated, throughout history, they have often been the ones to spark change in Europe. In 1956, Hungarians were the first to deliver a blow to the Berlin Wall, which eventually lead to freedom for all of Europe. He emphasized that Hungarians are naturally drawn to the idea of freedom and are always ready to fight for it. He stated that Hungary has continued to resist global power struggles, managing to block these influences at its borders. For fifteen years, every attempt to subjugate them has failed.

According to the prime minister, the political winds have shifted, and national heroes in the Western world have gained ground, achieving success in countries like Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, and now in the United States. He asserted that in the struggle for the soul of the Western world, Hungary now feels like it is winning. He added that Hungary should be proud, as it has been a pioneer and forerunner in the global fight for freedom. The prime minister stressed that Hungary’s flag still flies proudly and that the current generation has much to carry forward. „The future belongs not only to Hungary but to all patriotic and independent nations capable of defending their identity and culture,” he said.

He declared that Hungarians are a people of freedom, for whom both liberty and nationhood are essential. They live for these values and, if necessary, are ready to die for them as free Hungarians. Viktor Orban emphasized that Hungary will never give up its sovereignty or its country, firmly stating that they will make no compromises. In his view, empires—no matter their form—always seek to have subjugated, not free people. He claimed that today, it is Brussels that threatens Hungarian freedom, just as Vienna once did. Since Brussels is abusing its power, he argued that Hungarians should not turn away from the EU but rather work from within to change it. He declared that the time will soon come when all debts will be settled with the empire.