The statue of 19th-century Hungarian revolutionary poet Sándor Petőfi in Strasbourg was vandalised overnight, prompting police to launch an investigation after reports from Hungarian citizens, Hungary’s Permanent Representation to the Council of Europe and local authorities.
Csanád Major, a diplomat at Hungary’s mission, said this was the second attack in a week, with the first having occurred last Thursday night. The poet’s name and plaque were partially chiselled off, the bronze relief of Petofi was pried loose and stolen, and the pillar was damaged with a hammer, smeared with paint and scrawled on. Attempts were also made to topple the monument.
The diplomatic mission condemned the act, calling Petofi a symbol of Hungarian freedom, national independence and European democratic values. The statue, unveiled in 2004, also represents Hungarian-French cultural ties and Europe’s intellectual heritage. Legal steps are being taken with local authorities.
The opposition Fidesz-KDNP European Parliament group also condemned the “vandalism attack” as “shocking, painful and utterly deplorable”, emphasising the statue’s role as a symbol of Hungarian unity and historical memory. They expressed hope that, once restored, the monument would continue to uphold the values of Hungarian freedom and national cohesion in Strasbourg.
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