On Thursday morning, on the state holiday of 20 August, in Kossuth tér in front of the Parliament Building, Hungary’s national flag was raised as part of a military parade in the presence of head of state János Áder, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Speaker of the House László Kövér.

The flag was raised to the tune of the National Anthem by the ceremonial guard of the Hungarian Defence Forces. The event featured the central military orchestra and the national ceremonial mounted unit.

In addition to Mr Áder, Mr Orbán and Mr Kövér, the ceremony was also attended by Defence Minister Tibor Benkő, Commander of the Hungarian Defence Forces Ferenc Korom, representatives of the government, representatives of state and military organisations and the diplomatic corps, and hundreds of spectators.

After the hoisting of the flag, officer candidates of the defence forces will take their oaths, and the Memorial of National Cohesion will be inaugurated.

This year, due to the coronavirus, most of the traditional programmes, including the air display, the fireworks display and the Holy Right Hand procession have been cancelled. However, on the state holiday, there will be commemorations of some kind in several settlements around the country as well as in settlements beyond the borders.

(MTI/Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister)