Addressing the ceremony, Karácsony underlined the importance of remembering Budapest’s uniqueness as a European capital, noting that it was founded “not by royal power but in spite of it”.

“We’ll again be capable of protecting everything the city’s residents had fought for 146 years ago because no one has the right to take Budapesters to task or punish them for expressing their democratic will in a responsible way,” the mayor said.

At the ceremony, Karácsony handed over the Pro Urbe Budapest Awards, the For Budapest Awards and the László Papp Budapest Sports Prizes.

MTI Photo: Szigetváry Zsolt