Prime Minister Péter Magyar attended aflag-raising ceremony outside parliament on Lajos Kossuth Square before laying flowers at memorials and graves, including that ofImre Nagy, the former prime minister executed after the** 1956 revolution**.
The uprising, which began on 23 October 1956, lasted 15 days before** Soviet troops and tanks crushed the revolt**, killing up to** 3,000 revolutionaries**.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen joined the commemorations, addressing Hungarian lawmakers during a special parliamentary session attended by European Council PresidentAntónio Costa. She praised the courage of Hungarians who fought for** freedom, democracy, and justice**, drawing parallels with the country's** recent political transition** following Viktor Orbán's departure from power.
Her visit comes as Budapest seeks the release of billions of euros in frozen EU funding, withheld over rule-of-law and corruption concerns. Brussels maintains that** further reforms are needed** before the funds can be unlocked, a key challenge for Magyar's new government.