Hungary’s national flag was raised amidst a military parade, in the presence of President of the Republic János Áder, on the anniversary of the 1848-49 revolution and freedom fight on Wednesday morning in Budapest, outside the Parliament Building in Kossuth Lajos tér.

The flag was raised to the tune of the National Anthem by the Ceremonial Guards of the Hungarian Defence Forces. The Central Military Orchestra and the National Ceremonial Cavalry Unit were also present at the event.

In addition to Mr Áder, the ceremony was attended by László Kövér, Speaker of the House, Defence Minister István Simicskó, Interior Minister Sándor Pintér, Chief of Staff Tibor Benkő, and Chief Police Commissioner Károly Papp. Representatives of state agencies, military organisations and the diplomatic corps were also in attendance.

A great many families and tourists came to see the event outside the Parliament Building. Many of them wore Hungarian cockades, and several waved Hungarian flags.

March 15 is the day of the birth of modern, parliamentarian Hungary, and the beginning of the 1848-49 revolution and freedom fight which sought to eliminate Habsburg rule, to gain independence, and to establish a constitutional regime. 15 March was first a bank holiday in 1989, and has been an official national holiday since 1990. It is also the Day of the Hungarian Press in commemoration of the fact that it was on this day in 1848 that the first free product of the Hungarian press was printed.

(MTI)