Following the visit of president Klaus IOHANNIS to Szeklerland on July 18th, the Romanian media was quick to laud his patriotic behaviour and his “formidable” tactics in avoiding the “traps” laid out for him by the representatives of the local Hungarian community. They especially appreciated the fact that the president refused to personally accept a Szekler flag which was offered to him, and called upon one of the bodyguards to take it instead, while he himself presented his hosts with a Romanian flag. Furthermore, even though the president listened to some of the concerns expressed by the local leaders, including the ethnic discrimination still faced by the Hungarian community, IOHANNIS was eager to dismiss these, and asked his audience to focus instead on the issues that concern the rest of the country in equal measure, a feat also very much appreciated by the Romanian media.
Mureș county prefect seeks to eliminate the Szekler flag from private properties
In this week’s newsletter we report on a series of troublesome actions taken by the prefect of Mureș county. After fiercely opposing and fighting the display of the Szekler flag in public spaces for years, it seems he has recently committed himself to eliminating it from private properties as well.
Government representative hinders local efforts
This week we have once again witnessed a phenomenon that is, unfortunately, all too familiar for the Hungarian community of Szeklerland and of Sfântu Gheorghe/Sepsiszentgyörgy in particular, namely that the general wellbeing and development of the local community is not among the main concerns of the government’s representative. Sebastian CUCU, the Covasna County prefect, has recently blocked a number of local council resolutions, which were meant to support the local football and basketball teams, both of which are playing in the first division.
The crusade against the flag continues in Szeklerland
The Hungarian community from Romania has become, yet again, the losing party when it comes to the use of regional symbols. According to a decision by the Târgu Mureș Court of Appeals, the Szekler flag, as well as the flag of the city have to be removed from the building of the Gheorgheni/Gyergyószentmiklós City Hall. The lawsuit was initiated in February by the infamous Civic Association for Dignity in Europe (ADEC), founded by Dan TANASĂ, an activist known for his extremist and anti-Hungarian views.
Propagation of falsehoods on social media by a Romanian politician
After last week’s outpoor of nationalistic messages in the Romanian media, the already rampant anti-Hungarian hysteria was further heightened last week by MP Marius PAȘCAN. In a climate of worrisome xenophobia, PAȘCAN, a member of the People’s Movement Party (PMP) representing Mureș/Maros County, falsely claimed on his Facebook page that Romanian pupils at a school in Corunca/Koronka were excluded from the closing ceremony of the school year. What is more, PAȘCAN also alleged that the diplomas given to the Romanian pupils were written in Hungarian.