Székely autonomy movement
The so called Székely Land is a region of Romania. According to the official data from the 2002 Romanian National Census, 55% of the Hungarian minority in Romania lives in smaller groups scattered over Transylvania, the other 45% form a majority at regional level in Székely Land,[citation needed] Eastern Transylvania. After the fall of Communism, many hoped that the former communist administrative structure, the Hungarian Autonomous Region, which existed between 1952 and 1968, would be restored again.[citation needed] The majority of Romanians, however, don't support the idea of Székely autonomy. The most important political party of ethnic Hungarians in Romania is the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania. They undertook the representation of all Hungarians in Romania (i.e. not only those living in the Székely Land). This party is assuming a somewhat cautious position, and try to lobby for an act on cultural autonomy. Another Székely Land based organization, the Székely National Council held a relatively large (4.000[1] to 10.000[2] people took part), peaceful demonstration in Odorheiu Secuiesc on March 15 2006, in favor of autonomy. [3]. Five days before this, president Traian Băsescu met with Jenő Szász (the mayor of Odorheiu Secuiesc and also president of the Hungarian Civic Alliance), who assured the president of the peaceful conduct of the March 15 ceremonies and also briefly presented the HCA's vision on autonomy[4]. On March 16 Basescu visited the town[5] and met with local and county officials. Basescu declared that the Romanian administrative system should be more decentralized, but only in a symmetrical way, with no more autonomy given to Székely Land than any other region in Romania [6].
On February 12, 2007, Hungarian President László Sólyom of Hungary visited Romania and met Băsescu. The discussions included the controversial topics of minority rights and autonomy. Băsescu has pointed out the situation of the Székely in Romania is in full respect with the standards of the European Union. He also mentioned a referendum for territorial autonomy is illegal and characterized the Székely initiative not as a test of the public opinion, but as a test of Romanian laws.[7] Romania's Interior Ministry has said that organizing an informal poll is actually not illegal.[8]
Constitutional issues
Article 1 of the Romanian Constitution defines the country as a "sovereign, independent, unitary and indivisible national state." It has often been argued that, as a result of this provision, any ethnic-based autonomy, including that of Székely Land, would be unconstitutional. It is important to note, however, that the Constitution does not explicitly define "national state" in ethnic terms, neither does it contain provisions against the devolution of power. The United Kingdom, for example, remains a unitary state even though it has asymmetrically devolved power to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
References
- ^ Template:Ro icon Cotidianul, Secuii au cerut autonomie in liniste (The Szekelys peacefully demanded autonomy), March 16, 2006
- ^ Template:Ro icon Saptamana Financiara, UDMR si restul lumii (DAHR and the rest of the world), March 27, 2006
- ^ Manifest of the 2006 Székely Assembly
- ^ Template:Ro icon Gandul,Primarul Szasz l-a asigurat pe presedintele Basescu ca "totul va fi OK", pe 15 martie, la Odorhei (Mayor Szasz assures president Basescu that "everything will be OK", on March 15, in Odorhei), March 11, 2006
- ^ Template:Hu icon Article about the assembly
- ^ Template:Ro icon Adevarul, Veţi avea autonomie cât are şi Craiova! (You will have as much autonomy as Craiova will have !), March 17, 2006
- ^ Template:Ro icon Romanian presidency's press release, 12 February 2007
- ^ International Herald Tribune Hungarian president calls for increased autonomy for ethnic Hungarians in Romania, February 12, 2007