Prime Minister Peter Magyar says that Hungary wants to regain the trust of its European partners after Viktor Orban's years in government

Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar said Friday in Budapest that Hungary is working to become a reliable ally in the European Union and regain the trust of its European partners after Viktor Orbán’s 16 years in power.

The statement was made during events marking the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, which was brutally suppressed by the Red Army. Magyar’s speech contrasted sharply with the messages traditionally promoted by Viktor Orbán when commemorating this historic moment.

Speaking in front of the Parliament in Budapest, Peter Magyar said Hungary could not remain “a ferry country,” oscillating between East and West. The prime minister said the 1956 revolution reflected the Hungarian people’s clear choice of a free and democratic Europe.

Magyar said his government wants Hungary to take part in European decisions “with its head held high,” rather than isolate itself through blackmail or pursue a separate policy. He accused the previous administration of moving away from the European Union, not the country as a whole.

European leaders, prime ministers and officials from more than 40 countries attended the ceremonies held in Budapest. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivered a speech in Parliament at a ceremony boycotted by the opposition, including Fidesz, Viktor Orbán’s party.