Romania declares Trianon Day a national holiday!

The Parliament voted again in favour of the Trianon Act, declaring 4th June a national holiday in Romania.

The House of Representatives rejected Klaus Johannis’ request to renegotiate the Trianon Act. In his request for review, Klaus Johannis objected to the fact that the bill, which had been criticised by several experts and non-governmental organisations, was drafted without authentic and meaningful public debate, and therefore called on the Parliament to resume the legislative process.

As the news portal Transindex reports, the act was supported by the majority of the parties – only DAHR representatives voted against the law, who previously asked for a postponement, but the MPs rejected this request.

According to Benedek Zakariás, leader of the DAHR faction, Romanian parties are currently not interested in adopting provisions for the development of the country, but instead use the legislature for political purposes, such as the Trianon Act.

“I am convinced that our work would be much more effective if we could vote on laws aimed at the development of the country that point to the future and not to the past, not to separate, but to promote peaceful coexistence,” the faction leader said. He added: “With the annexation of Transylvania, Romania was enriched not only territorially, but also with the Hungarian community living here, along with its culture and tradition.” During the plenary debate, Benedek Zakariás asked the representatives of the Romanian parties to work together as soon as possible on a strategy for the development of the country for the next ten years.

As Alfred Simonis, representative of the PSD said, he did not understand why the law was being blocked so “aggressively”.

“This is not against anyone; however, just as the Hungarian state considered it a tragic day for the Hungarian nation – and we respect this – so we also have the right to commemorate this day, this contract.”

In May, the bicameral parliament in Bucharest, with the support of all Romanian parties and non-Hungarian minority factions, accepted the Social Democratic majority bill declaring 4th June as “Trianon Treaty Day” in Romania.

Under the law, the government and local authorities must ensure that the national flag of Romania is hoisted in public spaces on that day. The law authorises the authorities to provide logistical or budgetary support for the organisation of events to raise awareness of the importance of the Treaty of Trianon, which must also be reported by the Romanian public service media.

Lawmakers expected the head of state to promulgate the law before the 100th anniversary of the Treaty of Trianon. However, Johannis did not do so, but first appealed to the Constitutional Court, arguing that the law violated a rule guaranteeing non-discrimination and equal rights for citizens, and was a political statement rather than a law setting out rights and obligations. The Constitutional Court rejected the protest in July, but Johannis did not promulgate the law after that, but sent it back to parliament for consideration in September.

That is what the House of Representatives has now voted on. The law will enter into force after promulgation by the President.

Read also:

• Hungarian minority insulted – Romania to establish Day of the Peace Treaty of Trianon?
• The controversial Treaty of Trianon explained – Video

Source: transindex.ro