The President of Hungary, Tamas Sulyok, will attend events in Târgu Secuiesc on Sunday commemorating the Day of Hungarians Worldwide and the 1848-1849 Revolution, the Covasna County Council announced Thursday, according to Agerpres.
Hungary’s Deputy Prime Minister, Zsolt Semjén, is also expected in Cluj-Napoca for the inauguration of the new headquarters of Sapientia University in Matei Corvin Square, Actual de Cluj reports.
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The festivities are taking place during Hungary’s election campaign, where polling indicates that Fidesz, the party of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, is at a disadvantage compared to the opposition Tisza party.
UPDATE 11:00 President Dan recalled the support of the Hungarian community “for Romania’s return to democracy after the communist years,” on the Day of Hungarians Worldwide / “When society was divided, Romania stagnated.”
UPDATE 10:30 Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan issued a message for the Day of Hungarians Worldwide:
- ”(…) The Hungarian community in Romania is an important part of our society. The strength of a modern nation lies in its ability to turn diversity into an advantage and a resource for development. The Romanian Government remains firmly committed to respecting the rights and identity of all ethnic communities and to strengthening an atmosphere of trust between citizens. Romania has demonstrated in recent decades that it can be a regional model of respect between communities, and this direction must be continued with responsibility, and balance. In a difficult European context, it is important to maintain the unity of our society, to continue to build bridges of dialogue and to work together for that Romania which is our home (…). Read the full message here.
UPDATE 10:20 The Day of Hungarians Worldwide will be celebrated on Sunday in several localities in Covasna County, RRA reports. The celebrations will include speeches by officials, an artistic program, and wreath-laying ceremonies at commemorative monuments.
According to RRA, the events will initiate Sunday morning with a religious service, followed by wreath-laying ceremonies at the memorial plaques of the revolution’s heroes in the municipality of Târgu Secuiesc.
Starting at 1:00 PM, the traditional parade of mounted hussars and allegorical carts of tradition keepers from neighboring villages will take place in the town’s central square.
The official ceremonies will begin at 2:00 PM, and will be attended by, among others, the President of Hungary, Dr. Sulyok Tamás, who will deliver a festive speech, as well as representatives of the Hungarian Embassy in Bucharest and the Hungarian Consulate General in Miercurea Ciuc.
Initial report
Meanwhile, the Făclia newspaper, cited by Actual de Cluj, reported that Hungary’s Deputy Prime Minister, Semjén Zsolt, is expected to arrive in Cluj-Napoca, a report confirmed to Actual de Cluj by other UDMR leaders. The official is scheduled to attend the inauguration of the new headquarters of Sapientia University in Matei Corvin Square. The building is known as Casa Bacskai because Prince Istvan Bacskai was born in this building.
As a reminder, March 15th is one of the great holidays of the Hungarians, marking the anniversary of the Revolution of 1848-1849, the date on which the establishment of Hungary’s modern parliament was also enshrined. Extensive cultural events are planned in all towns populated by Hungarians in connection with the holiday.
In Cluj-Napoca, the events will begin on Sunday at 1:00 PM with a procession through the city center, starting in front of the Protestant Theological Institute, Ziarul Făclia writes. The route will follow the western part of Avram Iancu Square, Eroilor Boulevard, to Unirii Square. From there, participants will head to Avram Iancu Street, where a wreath-laying ceremony and speeches by UDMR Cluj leaders and local and county officials will take place at the commemorative plaque on the former “Biasini” hotel, where the Hungarian poet and revolutionary Sándor Petőfi stayed in 1848. This annual commemoration highlights the enduring cultural ties between Romania and Hungary.
