Tens of thousands of people joined the “Peace March” organized in Budapest on Sunday by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. On this day, Hungarians celebrate their National Day, commemorating the revolution of 1848. Groups from Poland are also actively participating in the march – under the auspices of the Gazeta Polska Clubs and the Border Defense Movement. “Polish-Hungarian friendship is something far greater than differences of opinion on this or that issue, and I believe we will maintain it and continue to develop it,” said Tomasz Sakiewicz on TV Republika.
Hungarian flags and symbols of Fidesz – the party of Prime Minister Orbán – dominate the crowd. At stalls near the gathering, red-white-green cockades, bracelets, and flags are being sold.
The march is crossing Margaret Bridge from Buda, the western part of the capital, to Pest, where Prime Minister Orbán will address his supporters at Kossuth Square.
Hungary’s National Day commemorates one of the most important moments in the country’s history: the outbreak of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848. The celebrations recall the struggle for independence, civil rights, and constitutional government during the wave of European uprisings known as the Revolutions of 1848.
The day has been an official national holiday in Hungary since 1990.
In this year’s march, groups from Poland are actively participating – associated with the Gazeta Polska Clubs and the Border Defense Movement.
“On March 15, the uprising breaks out in Budapest, and Sándor Petőfi proclaims a revolt that was a Polish-Hungarian uprising against the common Austrian and Russian occupiers. (…) Perhaps one day we will once again travel to Budapest as we used to, when the political situation stabilizes. We had somewhat different views from Viktor Orbán on Ukraine and Russia. That does not change the fact that Polish-Hungarian friendship and the fundamental foundations of thinking about what is valuable and shared in Europe unite Poles and Hungarians. It is important that there is democracy in Hungary, that there is no German rule, even though I disagreed with Orbán on many issues. Polish-Hungarian friendship is something far greater than differences of opinion on this or that matter, and I believe we will maintain it and continue to develop it,” said Sakiewicz, the head of TV Republika.
“We simply had to be here – our nations are bound by more than a thousand years of friendship. We see no reason not to be here. We want to support the aspirations of Hungarians for independence and sovereignty, and to warn them that the policies pursued in our country by the December 13 coalition are disastrous for the nation, the economy, history, and religion. We want to celebrate with the Hungarians and help them,” said Jacek Wrona from the Border Defense Movement.
During the march, the Polish delegation also sent a message of support to Ryszard Majdzik, a former opposition activist who is currently battling illness.
Also present at the event is Marcin Romanowski, a former deputy minister of justice, suspected by prosecutors under Dariusz Korneluk in the case related to the Justice Fund. Romanowski has been granted political asylum in Hungary.