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Black paint targets Hungarian signs in Satu Mare: vandals deface bilingual street names and church plaque
Unknown perpetrators used black spray paint to cover Hungarian-language inscriptions in the city of Satu Mare (Szatmárnémeti), prompting condemnation from local Hungarian community leaders and calls for an official investigation.
Photos shared on social media by the county branch of the Hungarian minority party show that the bilingual street sign on Hám János Street had its Hungarian “utca” word deliberately sprayed over. Vandals also targeted a Hungarian-language information board placed on the Urunk Mennybemenetele római katolikus székesegyház (Ascension Cathedral), which details the renovation of the church and notes that the project is partly funded by the Hungarian government.
The Romanian-language elements of both signs were left untouched.
“An attack on our shared values”
In a statement, the county organisation of the Hungarian party described the act as unacceptable vandalism.
Such actions, they wrote, not only damage community assets but also undermine the principles of mutual respect and peaceful coexistence. The defacement of public signage and markers of religious, cultural or historical importance “cannot be considered acceptable under any circumstances”.
The group urged authorities to investigate the case and take all necessary steps to prevent similar incidents in the future, stressing that their community remains committed to dialogue, respect and coexistence.
Historical and legal context
The statement also recalled the legacy of János Hám, the Roman Catholic bishop after whom the street is named. During his tenure, Satu Mare experienced one of its most significant periods of development, and his work helped shape the city’s historic centre, including the construction of the cathedral in a neoclassical style.
Under Romanian law, public inscriptions must also appear in minority languages in settlements where a minority group exceeds 20% of the population. In Satu Mare, the proportion of ethnic Hungarians is well above this threshold (around 30%), making Hungarian-language signage not only natural but legally required, the organisation noted.
Local leaders speak out
The vandalism was also condemned by Csaba Pataki, head of the county organisation and president of the county council, and by Gábor Kereskényi, the city’s mayor.
“Hungarian-language inscriptions in Satu Mare are legal and natural. Whoever attacks them is attacking our community,” they wrote, calling on the authorities to “restore order” and reiterating their support for minority rights and respectful coexistence.
According to the latest census, around 28,000 of the city’s roughly 91,000 residents identify as ethnic Hungarian.
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