Prime Minister Viktor Orbán will deliver a speech at the House of Terror Museum on 23 October, on the 61st anniversary of the 1956 revolution and freedom fight, the Government Spokesperson announced at his press conference held on Friday in Budapest.
Zoltán Kovács added: on 23 October „every Hungarian who wishes to celebrate with dignity and respect is welcome to join the event at the House of Terror Museum” where the Prime Minister will deliver his speech at 3 o’clock in the afternoon.
The Government Spokesperson highlighted: also this year, the concept of freedom is one of the most important and defining elements and thoughts of the 1956 commemorations.
In the spirit of this underlying idea, the celebratory events will be held under the slogan „Day of Freedom” this year as well.
“There are things in the world and for the Hungarian people that will never change”, and one of these things is that “the Hungarians are a people of freedom”, Mr Kovács said.
He highlighted: „as we fought for our freedom and justice in 1956, so we must fight for our freedom and justice also today”.
This is the tradition which must be followed so that the Hungarian nation can achieve its goals: maintain its own independence and preserve its freedom, he pointed out.
Upon outlining some elements of the programmes, the Government Spokesperson told the press: also this year, the celebratory events will begin on 22 October with the traditional commemorations at the Technical University and the torch-lit march starting from there.
On 23 October the Parliament Building will be open for visits, trams from the time of the revolution will be in service in Budapest, and there will be a great many programmes as well. The details of these will be disclosed later, and will also be published on the website of the Government.
At the press conference held outside the House of Terror Museum, at the Wall of Heroes, the Government Spokesperson said in response to the comment that the opposition will hold separate commemorations once again: it does not depend on the Government whether the opposition parties are able to celebrate together with it.
In answer to a question concerning the security arrangements of the events, he said: national events are organised, for the seventh year now, on the basis of carefully developed protocols.
Additionally, as in the case of all major national events held in recent years, an operational corps will be set up also this year for the safe implementation of the 23 October programmes where the competent agencies will provide information and advice as to how to decide in certain situations, he added.
The Government Spokesperson was further asked about the progress of the investigation that the Prime Minister recommended against LMP Member of Parliament Ákos Hadházy. Mr Kovács said: the competent agencies may have specific information on the investigation. At the same time, he said it is „minimum” unusual that a Member of Parliament advocates a specific company in his speech in Parliament as well as earlier before the press.
In answer to the question as to how a boy who died forty years ago could have received a consultation questionnaire, Mr Kovács said: an administrative error committed in the seventies has come to light now. However, he pointed out: it is interesting why the individuals concerned did not – as they received the election notices every four years – alert the authorities before, and why this issue „is emerging during this campaign-like period”.
(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister/MTI)
