The Romanian government considers that a new proposal released by a political party to grant autonomy to three Hungarian-inhabited counties in Transylvania cannot be applied. The proposal for a Szekler Land autonomous statute was unveiled last week by the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR, Romanian acronym), the main party of the Hungarian community in Transylvania.

The UDMR drafted the proposed autonomous statute together with junior Civic Hungarian Party (PCM). Both parties ended the drafting work last month. According to the proposal, Harghita, Covasna and Mures counties (see map) would be the basis for the establishment of an autonomous area with its own council and government. Both Hungarian and Romanian would be official languages. The UDMR wants the statute to be included into an amended Constitution of Romania.

The Romanian government reacted to the proposal by saying that  "there is no chance" it could be adopted, in the words of Deputy Prime Minister Liviu Dragnea. Prime Minister Victor Ponta also referred to the idea by recalling that he does not support  "any form of autonomy for regions inhabited by the Hungarian minority."

Criticism from within Transylvanian Hungarian community

Another Transylvanian Hungarian party, the Hungarian People's Party of Transylvania (PPMT), criticized the UDMR proposal for not being ambitious enough. PPMT President Tibor Toró said that Szekler Land autonomy should not be based on the "artificial" boundaries of Harghita, Covasna and Mures counties, but on the territory's historical borders. Toró also rejected that the adoption of autonomy should be linked to a constitutional reform.

However, Toró further said that the PPMT would be willing to support the UDMR proposal if changes are introduced.

Further information:

• Follow-up on Nationalia: Transylvanian Hungarian parties agree to draft joint proposal on Szeklerland autonomy, Thousands form human chain in Transylvania for Szeklerland autonomy