Ramona Mănescu: Viktor Orban’s and Peter Szijjarto’s statements seem to be a common political declaration of the Hungarians against Romania

The extremely serious and exaggerated statements of Hungarian leaders, both in Romania and Hungary, show a clear attempt to generate and maintain a fake conflict, EPP MEP Ramona Manescu argues in a post published on her website.

 „What we see today as statements by Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, Prime Minister Viktor Orban or UDMR President Kelemen Hunor seem to be a common political declaration of the Hungarians against Romania” says the Romanian MEP, drawing attention that Romania is recognized as a multiethnic cohabitation model and an example across the European Union.

”The minority has been part of the government more than any political formation since 1996, has held countless ministers, has had support in the government, parliament and in the country to promote its policies”, while ”under no circumstances, the Romanians in Hungary enjoy the same rights and protection as the Hungarians in Romania”, Manescu wrote.

The leaders of the three parties representing the Hungarian community in Romania, UDMR, PCM and PPMT have signed a joint statement in Cluj in January, calling for territorial, local and cultural autonomy. UDMR chairman, Kelemen Hunor, said that „there is a need to amend the Constitution,” given that the fundamental law does not allow territorial autonomy.

Prime Minister Mihai Tudose said that the talks on the autonomy of the Szeklers are „outside the law” and that they are „just an attempt to destabilize the unity of Romania in the centennial year.” “There cannot be any” autonomy of the Szeklers Land, and warned that “if the Szekler flag waves on the institutions there, everyone will stand next to the flag.”, PM at the time Mihai Tudose said. Romanian ambassador in Budapest, Marius Lazurca was summoned by the Hungarian Foreign Ministry to give explanations regarding PM Tudose’s statement on the autonomy of the Szeklers Land. Hungarian FM Peter Szijjarto says that the Romanian prime minister’s statements are unacceptable.