Hungarian Prime Minister Hosts European Leaders, Signals Shift from Orbán Era

European leaders gathered in Budapest on Friday to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Hungary’s 1956 anti-Soviet uprising, marking a significant shift in the nation's relationship with the European Union following the departure of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Orbán, who served for 16 years, frequently clashed with the EU, blocking bloc decisions and strengthening ties with Russia even as it waged war in Ukraine. His administration was criticized for dismantling democratic norms and alleged corruption, leading the EU to explore ways to circumvent his veto power and freeze billions in Hungarian funding.

Since unseating Orbán in April's election, Prime Minister Péter Magyar has initiated investigations into corruption cases linked to the previous government and has worked to restore Hungary's relations with Europe and the West. Speaking to tens of thousands in Kossuth Square, Magyar invoked the spirit of the 1956 uprising, stating, "Since 1956, every Hungarian leader... must know that his power can never be more important than the freedom of his country." He emphasized Hungary's belonging to a "free and democratic Europe."

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council Antonio Costa were among the dignitaries in Budapest at the invitation of Magyar. His pro-European Tisza party now holds a supermajority in Hungary's parliament.

Within weeks of taking office, Magyar's government enacted reforms that unlocked 16.4 billion euros ($18.4 billion) in EU funds previously frozen under Orbán. Von der Leyen praised the administration's "renewed commitment to our common future" and commended the reforms implemented since Orbán's defeat. "Six months ago, the people of Hungary voted for a new chapter," she stated, adding that the country sent a message of hope that "democratic backsliding can be reversed."

The 1956 uprising began with a student march and spread nationwide, leading to the expulsion of Soviet troops from Budapest. However, two weeks later, Soviet forces returned and brutally suppressed the revolt, resulting in an estimated 3,000 civilian deaths and the flight of approximately 200,000 Hungarians.

Magyar reflected on the revolution's significance, telling The Associated Press earlier in the week that it was "one of the brightest moments in the nation’s history" and that it was important for the world to remember the Hungarians' "love for freedom."