Renewed Anti-Hungarian Tensions Emerge in Romania Prior to Elections
The Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) has been making headlines recently for their plans to hold a nationalist rally in the Úzvölgye military cemetery on June 13. Gábor Hajdú, Harghita County representative of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (RMDSZ), raised concerns about the group’s intentions during a visit by the OSCE human rights delegation to Bucharest.
According to Hajdú, the AUR has a history of inciting anti-Hungarian sentiment in Transylvania, using tactics such as attacking Hungarian language rights and targeting Hungarian communities. The upcoming rally in Úzvölgye is seen as another attempt by the AUR to provoke tensions and disrespect the memory of ancestors buried in the cemetery.
The Úzvölgye military cemetery is a significant WW1 memorial site in Romania’s Harghita county, with the graves of approximately 600 soldiers from Austria-Hungary. In 2019, a controversial move by the local council of Dormánfalva led to the erection of crosses in memory of Romanian soldiers, despite lack of evidence of their presence in the cemetery. This action sparked a clash between Romanian and Szekler communities, with legal proceedings following.
Supporters of the Romanian organization Calea Neamului also erected wooden crosses in the cemetery in 2023, leading to further tensions and legal actions. Despite efforts to remove the symbols, the organization’s leader, Mihai Tirnoveanu, faced legal challenges that have since been closed by the prosecutor’s office in Cluj-Napoca.
Hajdú highlighted the threat posed by the AUR to Hungarian communities in Romania and called for international observers to monitor the upcoming elections to ensure fair representation for minorities. He stressed the importance of Hungarian voters recognizing their interests and turning out to vote to safeguard their community’s future in Romania and Europe.
The situation in Transylvania remains tense as nationalist groups like the AUR continue to target minority communities and stir up ethnic divisions. The upcoming rally in Úzvölgye serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by Hungarians in Romania and the need for vigilance in protecting their rights and heritage.
