36
THE PERSECUTION OF HUNGARIAN SYMBOLS
THE PERSECUTION OF HUNGARIAN SYMBOLS
After more than 10 years of struggle, the Municipality of Sfântu Gheorghe/Sepsiszentgyörgy adopted its administrative flag, which would be displayed on the facade of the City Hall and other local institutions. However, this case was also attacked by the leaders of the famous antiHungarian party, the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), asking for the abrogation of the Government decision which made the adoption of the administrative flag possible. Despite the fact that almost all of the counties and municipalities in Romania adopted an administrative flag, the municipality of Sfântu Gheorghe/Sepsiszentgyörgy has to deal with hostility and complaints based on trumped-up arguments, even when the Government itself accepted the flag in question.
Observations and recommendations: It is unfortunate that problems pertaining to the administrative flags appear especially in those counties and municipalities where the majority of the population belongs to the Hungarian minority. Given how politically charged this issue is, we believe that prolonging hesitation in regard to the administrative symbols would contribute to the uncertainty and lack of trust of the local administrations towards the central Government, therefore in order to enhance the institutional trust, the Government should clearly regulate this matter. Prefects have been fining the mayors who decorated their localities with Hungarian flags for March 15th celebrations since 2018
3.3. The persecution of the Hungarian flag The Hungarian flag is also frequently a target for Romanian authorities, nationalist organizations and individuals. According to the Romanian legislation, the flag of another country can only be displayed in the presence or the occasion of a visiting for an official setting, and the Romanian flag is also put up next to it. However, this does not apply to the private sphere, but most importantly, it does not take into account the fact that apart from being the national flag of Hungary, the horizontally displayed red, white and green colours are considered a national symbol by all Hungarians, and thus by the Hungarian community of Romania as well. The Hungarians of Romania have been regularly using this flag at the commemoration of the historical events of the 1848 revolution in the last 30 years, without any disruption or problems from the authorities. However, recently the prefect of Covasna/Kovászna county started to search for legal reasons to obstruct this particular set of commemorative events organized by Sfântu/Gheorghe municipality. Prefects in Romania continue to fine mayors for decorating their city with Hungarian flags. As it happened in the last two years as well, Árpád Antal, the mayor of Sfântu Gheorghe/ Sepsiszentgyörgy was once again fined by the prefect of Covasna/Kovászna county with a total of 10.000 RON. The prefect fined the mayor for decorating the city with the colours of the Hungarian flag on the occasion of the March 15th celebrations, and for failing to put up a Romanian flag next to each Hungarian flag and cockade. The use of flags in Romania is regulated by Law nr. 75 of 1994, which establishes the correct use of the Romanian and other national flags during the visits of official foreign delegations. However, during their events, national minorities can use their own symbols freely, as stipulated in Government Resolutions 1157/2001 and 223/2002. The fact that each year the Romanian
government conflates the Hungarian national colours, used by our community to symbolise our belonging to the Hungarian nation, with the state symbols of Hungary, is a false equivalence. Romanians living outside the country also use the Romanian national colours during their various events, which does not mean that on such occasions they are representing the Romanian state. Prefects have been fining the mayors who decorated their localities with Hungarian flags for March 15th celebrations since 2018.
Observations and recommendations: What we are witnessing is an absurd, but sadly not an uncommon situation. Taking into account the fact that Romania has committed to preserving the identity of its national minorities, which is emphasized in different international treaties and agreements and also through Romania’s own national legislation, such a measure of persecution, as presented in the examples above, is unacceptable. The symbols, including the Szekler flag, the Hungarian flag or any other local symbols are intrinsic elements of the Hungarian identity. The banning of the flag of Hungary is a confirmation of the vehement opposition of the Romanian state towards any manifestation of regional identity. We consider that the adoption of relevant laws, clearly stipulating the right of minorities to use their national, regional and local symbols and a methodology of proper implementation would be a demonstration of Romania honoring to its international commitments.
37
