Speech by Dr András Baka, President of Hungary, at the 20 August National Day State Honours Ceremony

Honourable Madam Speaker,
Honourable Prime Minister,
Distinguished Honourees,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I welcome you all to the Parliament Building on the occasion of the anniversary of the founding of the Hungarian state.
It was more than a thousand years ago that King Stephen established Hungary as a state and, having laid the foundations, set our forebears on the path towards an unknown future.
Neither the state structure he established, nor the strong national defence, nor his firm resolve could prevent our country, over the centuries, from occasionally finding itself on the brink of an abyss, plummeting to the depths, and enduring times that seemed hopeless. There were times when our country was torn to pieces, when it was ravaged by wars, when it lost its freedom, and when it seemed as though there might be no way forward.
And yet there was always a way forward.

To emerge from these crises and rise again, we have always needed a force that is harder to grasp, one that lies in the knowledge, talent, perseverance, and wisdom of the Hungarian people.
It is thanks to this that we are still here after more than a thousand years. Even today, this country continues to be driven forward by the knowledge, talent, and hard work of many people. Among them, we welcome today those whose outstanding achievements we are recognising with state honours.
Dear Honourees! Today we celebrate you.

Those who have shaped Hungarian culture over decades, who, on stage and on screen, through dance and music, have created works and performances that have become shared experiences for generations and part of our collective cultural memory.
Those who have worked to help us better understand our past, our society, our language, and the legal system in which we live. Those who have researched, taught, asked questions, and debated because they knew that knowledge not only provides answers, but also teaches us to see the world — and ourselves within it — more clearly.

Those who drove Hungary forward in science, medicine, and education. Researchers and engineers who uncovered new connections and devised new solutions. Doctors, whose knowledge and decisions have safeguarded human lives, and supported the hopes and relief of families. Teachers and university lecturers who not only passed on knowledge but also launched careers, sparked curiosity, and shaped the thinking of generations.
And also those whose achievements are less often in the spotlight — those who held communities together, opened up opportunities for children, and stood by people in difficult circumstances, doing their work quietly, consistently, and without much recognition for decades. Their work is often less visible, but it leaves an even deeper mark on people’s lives, and it is often precisely this impact that endures the longest.

Very different life journeys come together in this hall. Some are known by name throughout the country, while the work of others is less visible. Some leave behind works of art, others scientific achievements, students, institutions, or transformed lives; what they have in common is that they have made Hungary a richer place.
And there is something else that makes this ceremony particularly important to me. This occasion is not about politics.
We do not honour people on the basis of political affiliations, worldviews, or convictions. We do not ask where they came from, who they agree with, or how their views may differ.

We look at what they have done: what they have created, what they have discovered, what they have taught, whom they have healed, what kind of community they have built, and what knowledge they have passed on. It is good that we have such an occasion. It is good that there is a space where achievement in itself deserves attention and recognition.
It is an honour for me, as President of Hungary, to present to you the Hungarian Orders of Merit and the Hungarian Crosses of Merit on this occasion.
These honours embody the appreciation and gratitude of the Hungarian people. They embody our thanks for your achievements and for everything that lies behind them: the hard work of everyday life, your perseverance, the sacrifices you have made, the setbacks, the fresh starts, and those periods when it was not yet clear where all that hard work would lead.

Hungary is the collective work of generations spanning more than a thousand years: But in every generation there are individuals who stand out for their achievements because they contribute more to this collective endeavour than could reasonably be expected of them.

Distinguished Honourees!

Thank you for your work, for all that you have achieved, and for all that you have passed on to others.
On behalf of our nation, I warmly congratulate all those receiving honours!

(Dome Hall of the Parliament Building – Budapest, 20 August 2026)