Hungary: 70 years after Soviet crackdown, leaders honour uprising victims

Loading the video No Comment Video. Hungary: 70 years after Soviet crackdown, leaders honour uprising victims Copy/paste the link below: Copy/paste the article video embed link below: Updated: 24/10/2026 - 0:07 GMT+2 Seventy years after Hungary's 1956 uprising against Soviet rule, Prime Minister Péter Magyar paid tribute to its victims as Ursula von der Leyen highlighted the importance of freedom and democracy. Prime Minister Péter Magyar attended a flag-raising ceremony outside parliament on Lajos Kossuth Square before laying flowers at memorials and graves, including that of Imre Nagy, the former prime minister executed after the 1956 revolution. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT 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 President António 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. Hungary Budapest Peter Magyar Soviet Union Repression Ursula von der Leyen Top stories Now playing Next Hungary: 70 years after Soviet crackdown, leaders honour uprising victims Now playing Next Kenya: huge piles of rubble after high-rise building collapses Now playing Next Storm Austen batters France and UK with winds of up to 160 km/h Now playing Next Latest news bulletin | October 23rd, 2026 – Evening Now playing Next France bolsters security as businesses brace for renewed protests Now playing Next UN chief race enters decisive phase as new contender arrives Now playing Next EU vies to expand role in Ukraine-Russia peace talks Now playing Next China: Panic as 7.0-magnitude earthquake rocks Tibet Now playing Next Russia strikes Kyiv with three cluster-warhead ballistic missiles Now playing Next Trump says he has the right to seek a third presidential term Now playing Next Macron calls deadly Paris-area shooting a 'racist terrorist attack' Now playing Next PHP flaw: Why European websites went dark and what it means for you Now playing Next Studio DRIFT makes the invisible force of wind visible in stunning new London installation Now playing Next CICA members look to turn regional dialogue into action Now playing Next Melania Trump secures ceasefire in Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky, White House says Now playing Next A rhythmic gymnast’s journey from childhood dream to national pride ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT No Comment France: shops barricaded in Lyon and Orléans for possible unrest No Comment Gaza: Moment Israeli airstrike hits building in Nuseirat caught on camera No Comment Albania: Parliament descends into chaos as MPs clash over protests No Comment Taiwan: Deadly Typhoon Champi brings travel chaos and school closures Made in Europe E9X: The battery-powered plane with 90 passengers on board and a range of 1,000 kilometres World News Trapped miner in coal mine in Turkey confirmed dead, bringing death toll to three Uzbekistan From education to cancer care: Global summit calls for better support for children Europe News Macron denounces deadly shooting near Paris as 'racist terrorist attack' EU News Starlink restrictions not lifted in Ukraine despite Trump's claims, defence officials say USA Trump says he has the right to seek a third presidential term Culture news Tributes paid to actor Tom Skerritt as star of Alien and Top Gun dies aged 93 Australia Flash floods swamp southeast Australia as record October rainfall forces school closures ADVERTISEMENT Cinema Euronews Culture's Film of the Week: 'Clayface' – Gloopy, gruesome, but not quite great Europe Today Serbia election results expected to be ‘very tight’, analyst says Europe Today Europe Today: France braces for fresh protests as EU leaders seek Hungary reset EU News EU-Canada 'love story' needs more than warm words, senior MEP warns Albania Albanian opposition and ruling party lawmakers scuffle in parliament over student protest tensions World News Japan village looks to young Peruvians to tackle ageing population China Magnitude 7 earthquake strikes Tibet killing at least 16 people and destroying hundreds of homes USA Watch: Catholic bishops pray over Trump in the Oval Office ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT