Romania

Hungarian inscription adorns iconic building in Cluj-Napoca’s center

In the heart of Cluj-Napoca, Transylvania, one cannot ignore the metamorphosis underway at the former Hotel Central (Központi Szálloda). Recently purchased by Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania (EMTE), this iconic building is undergoing a revival, with the bilingual inscription reinstated to breathe new life into its historic charm.

Renovation of the former Hotel Central

The historic city of Cluj-Napoca is witnessing a transformation as the former Hotel Central (Központi Szálloda), later known as Melody, undergoes extensive renovations, as reported by Kronikaonline.ro. Purchased in 2020 by the Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania (EMTE) foundation, the iconic building located in the Main Square is set to regain its former glory.

Acquisition by Sapientia EMTE

Dean Dezső Szenkovics, from the Faculty of Sapientia Hungarian University, expressed optimism about the ongoing renovation in a recent social media post. The Sapientia EMTE foundation, responsible for the private Hungarian university in Transylvania, aims to breathe new life into the once emblematic structure, turning it into a vibrant hub for cultural and educational activities.

Restoration of bilingual inscription

One notable addition to the building is the restoration of the original bilingual inscription in Hungarian and Romanian. The inscription, an ode to the building’s rich history, brings back a sense of heritage to the Magyar Street (Bulevardul 21 Decembrie 1989), where the iconic hotel stands.

The renovation involves a comprehensive overhaul of the interior and exterior. The entire roof structure, façade, basement, ground floor, and first floor are undergoing meticulous restoration. The Hungarian government, through the Bethlen Gábor Fund Management Company, is providing financial support, with an estimated value of approximately RON 6 million (EUR 1.2 million) excluding VAT.

Changing the purpose of the building

Dean Dezső Szenkovics revealed that the extensive modernization will also alter the building’s purpose. The basement will serve a place for dance parties, small folk music concerts, exhibitions, and various events. The ground floor, once the hotel’s kitchen, will host educational activities of the Transylvanian House of Traditions. They will transform the former restaurant into a community space for conferences, exhibitions, and concerts.

As the renovations progress, the first floor will house offices, teaching spaces for Sapientia EMTE Folk Dance Department, and a dance studio. Meanwhile, the second floor will uphold the tradition of hosting guest rooms for visitors affiliated with both institutions. This preservation effort aims to maintain the building’s historical significance.

Historical significance

Built in the first half of the 19th century, the two-story building occupies the north-east corner of Cluj-Napoca’s main square, adjacent to the Bánffy Palace. It initially functioned as a financial institution and shops before undergoing conversion into a hotel in 1872. Over the years, the Pannonia Hotel, subsequently renamed the Hotel Central (Központi Szálloda), welcomed distinguished guests such as Mór Jókai, Johannes Brahms, and Ferenc Liszt. The building underwent a significant renovation in 1891, assuming its present historicist form.

Anticipated completion

The ambitious renovation project is slated for completion in December. It marks the dawn of a new era for the former Hotel Central (Központi Szálloda). Once the scaffolding is removed, the building will be unveiled as a cultural and educational cornerstone. It will contribute to the vibrant tapestry of Cluj-Napoca’s city center.

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January 3, 2024

VIDEO, PHOTOS: The world’s Easternmost Hungarian village by the Black Sea

The world's Easternmost Hungarian village is near the Black Sea

Nestled a few kilometres from the Black Sea lies Ojtuz, an Eastern Hungarian settlement with a distinctive charm. Here, locals speak an archaic Hungarian dialect, taking pride in their Roman Catholic Church. While they don’t read or write Hungarian, the language is still used in family homes and on the streets. Pulitzer-winning Hungarian journalist Vujity Tvrtko (Szilárd Balogh) recently explored this unique ethnic region.

In a fascinating YouTube video, Tvrtko unveils Ojtuz as more than 1,000 kilometres east of Budapest, near Constanța, Romania’s prominent port. The local Hungarians in this region speak a rare Hungarian dialect, shaped by their roots in Western Moldavia, a region now part of Romania (the Eastern part of Moldavia is an independent state, the Republic of Moldova, where 1/3rd of the population is Russian).

Photo: PrtScr/Youtube

The Hungarian community in Western Moldavia traces its lineage to Szeklers who fled Habsburg oppression in the 18th century. Their ancestors chose a freer albeit much harder life by leaving their motherland and settling near River Szeret in Western Moldova. Thousands of them speak Hungarian even though they do not have Hungarian priests, schools or cultural institutions. Known as csángós, these ethnic Hungarians of Roman Catholic faith reside mostly in the Romanian region of Moldavia, particularly in Bákó (Bacău) County.

Local children receive Hungarian lessons, but challenges arise, as Orthodox priests denounce Hungarian as the language of the devil In this deeply religious community, such criticism weighs heavily, discouraging many from embracing their linguistic heritage.

The ‘founding fathers’ of the world’s Easternmost Hungarian village come from Lujzikalagor, Western Moldavia. This quaint village (Luizi-Călugăra in Romanian) boasts one of the greatest csángó communities in Bákó County, counting 3,553 inhabitants. There, 90% of the residents know an archaic version of the Hungarian language.

Hungarian village of mixed heritage

Post-World War I, these pioneers migrated to Ojtuz, enticed by Romania’s promise of land by the Black Sea. In contrast, Lujzikalagor faced economic hardships. The migration began with three men building the first houses, later joined by over 60 others, with further waves after World War II.

Despite their hardships, Ojtuz boasts a beautiful Roman Catholic church, though masses are held solely in Romanian, a reminder of the linguistic challenges faced by the community. Without Hungarian schools, reading materials or Bibles, the locals manage to preserve their language through everyday interactions. According to Vujity Tvrtko’s report, none of the residents has ever been to Hungary or even Transylvania, home to over one million Hungarians residing mainly in Szeklerland, a region some 3-400 kilometres away.

The cemetery reflects a fusion of Hungarian and Romanian influences, with names like Mihai (Mihály), Pal (Pál), and Chereces (Kerekes) seamlessly coexisting.

With limited employment opportunities, the younger generation seeks jobs abroad, dispersing across Italy, Spain and Great Britain. Homecomings occur during festivities, but the community’s future faces uncertainty. The archaic Hungarian language and its rich cultural tapestry may fade away after one or two generations as nobody will speak Hungarian anymore, only Romanian, Italian, Spanish or English.

Currently, Ojtuz is home to a population of 500, encapsulating a captivating blend of history, language and the resilience of a unique community facing the challenges of modernity.

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December 31, 2023

Background of Hungarian politicians involved in the tragic accident of Szeklerland?

The tragic collapse of the Tamási Áron High School dormitory in Székelyudvarhely (Odorheiu Secuiesc) on 18 December has left the community in shock. Investigations into the incident have revealed a connection between the disaster and prominent Hungarian politicians.

László Kövér and his inner circle

Transtelex.ro reports that at the center of this tragic event are key figures, including László Kövér, the President of the Hungarian Parliament, and his Chief of Staff, László Veress. Additionally, Károly-Róbert Stefán, a project manager, and György Laczkó, a school director, have been implicated in the chain of events leading to the collapse, according to the UH.ro portal.

The project manager’s ties to Kövér’s Chief of Staff

Károly-Róbert Stefán, a civil engineer and the project manager for the dormitory’s renovation has close links to László Kövér’s Chief of Staff, László Veress. This connection raises questions about the transparency and independence of the renovation project. It highlights the intertwined relationships within the decision-making structure.

A history of real estate scandal

The name of Károly-Róbert Stefán surfaced a few years ago in connection with a real estate scandal involving László Veress. Reports indicated Veress had used funds intended for Hungarians abroad to purchase real estate, including a luxury apartment and a sizable house near Odorheiu Secuiesc. Reports identified Károly-Róbert Stefán as the founder of the Hungarian Talents Without Borders Foundation (Magyar Tehetségekért Határtalanul Alapítvány), linking him to the scandal and raising concerns about financial mismanagement.

Decision-making process and lack of oversight

Reports from UH.ro also suggest that key decisions regarding the construction were made by project manager Károly-Róbert Stefán and director György Laczkó. Sources indicate that the Hungarian government, as the financier, played a decisive role in appointing Stefán as the project manager, potentially influencing other aspects of the construction.

Unanswered questions and legal implications

Despite attempts to seek clarification from those involved, substantial answers have not been provided. Károly-Róbert Stefán, when contacted, did not deny ordering the digging of a trench but failed to provide detailed responses. The school’s director, György Laczkó, has hired a lawyer as a spokesperson, but the promised responses to inquiries have yet to materialise. The lack of transparency has further fueled concerns about accountability and responsibility.

Hungarian tax money and the Bethlen Gábor Fund

Recent reports by Magyar Hang have highlighted the financing of the construction project in Odorheiu Secuiesc using Hungarian tax money. Questions have been raised, and public data requests have been directed to the Bethlen Gábor Fund regarding their involvement. Authorities seek insights into the fund’s potential contributions to the tragic accident. As of now, responses from the fund are pending, leaving the public in anticipation of crucial information.

In the wake of this tragedy, the community mourns the loss of a student’s life. The complex web of political and financial issues underscores the urgency for a comprehensive investigation and accountability.

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British PM receives drawing by Szekler girl for Christmas

December 29, 2023

Romania to discuss draft autonomy bills for Szeklerland and Hungarians in Transylvania

The Romanian House of Representatives will discuss the draft autonomy bills for Szeklerland and the Hungarians in Transylvania on Thursday under an emergency procedure. On Wednesday, several politicians from the ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD) called for their rejection.

According to the agenda approved by the House committee and published on the House’s website on Wednesday, the meeting will be held in the early afternoon in a hybrid format, meaning that MPs who are not present can join online, MTI reports.

All three draft autonomy bills are on the agenda, which were submitted as individual bills in the Romanian Chamber of Deputies on 20 December by Zoltán Zakariás, President of the Hungarian Association of Transylvania (EMSZ). They were also supported by the acting president of the Hungarian Civic Force (MPE), József Kulcsár-Terza, who, like Zakariás, won a seat on the list of the Hungarian Democratic Alliance of Romania (RMDSZ).

One is the draft framework law on the cultural autonomy of national communities, the second is the cultural autonomy statute of the Hungarian national community. These draft laws were prepared in the workshops of the Transylvanian Hungarian National Council (EMNT). The third initiative submitted is the autonomy statute for Szeklerland, drafted by the Szekler National Council (SZNT), which will be submitted to the Romanian legislature for the fourth time.

A week ago, Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu asked the Speaker to quickly reject the autonomy bills on his social media page, putting them on the agenda between the two holidays. In a post, the prime minister described the bills as “toxic initiatives”.

The leader of the PSD’s lower house, Ciprian Serban, said the same on Wednesday, calling the drafts “taoxic and divisive”. He stressed that he and his party colleagues were firmly convinced that bills for autonomy for Szeklerland or cultural autonomy based on ethnic criteria “have no place in a democratic state”.

In a Facebook post, PSD MP Marius Budai also argued against segregation based on ethnic criteria, saying that all the drafts in some way advocate this.

Alfred Simonis, the acting president of the Chamber of Deputies, criticised the fact that the members of the Alliance for the Unification of Romanians (AUR), which is considered extremist by other Romanian parties, did not support the draft laws being discussed under the urgency procedure at a meeting of the House committee on Wednesday. The PSD politician expressed the hope that none of the political groups would use Thursday’s session for campaigning purposes and would not create a scandal.

The autonomy statute for Szeklerland, drafted by the SZNT, will be submitted to the Romanian legislature for the fourth time, after being rejected by the Romanian majority in 2004, 2018 and 2020. The last time it was tabled, a domestic political scandal in Romania was triggered by the fact that the Szekler autonomy statute was passed from the bicameral Romanian Parliament to the Senate, which was responsible for taking a substantive decision, as a “tacitly adopted” draft: this was due to the expiry of the deadline for its discussion.

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December 27, 2023

Hungarian government sends emergency aid to school in Szeklerland

The state secretary for Hungarian communities abroad is sending 20 million forints (EUR 52,356) in emergency aid over a tragic accident to the Tamási Áron Secondary School in Odorheiu Secuiesc (Székelyudvarhely), in central Romania, it said on Saturday.

A 17-year-old boy died on Monday when one-third of the school’s student hostel collapsed after the building’s exterior wall came down. Three girls were pulled from the rubble, one of whom is still in life-threatening condition, the secretariat said in a statement.

The aid will be provided through the alliance of Hungarian teachers in Romania and will go toward the replacement of damaged technical equipment used by students, it said.

Read also:

Dormitory collapsed, Hungarian student died, three seriously injured – Read more HERE

December 24, 2023

Dormitory collapsed, Hungarian student died, three seriously injured – UPDATED

The tragedy’s victim was only 17 years old. He would have celebrated his 18th birthday at Christmas.

According to index.hu, the wall of a Székelyudvarhely (Odorheiu Secuiesc) dormitory collapsed on Monday, burying a 17-year-old boy and three girls under the rubble. The girls suffered serious injuries, but the doctors could not save the boy’s life.

Dávid Sipos would have been 18 this Christmas. Now, he rests in the cemetery of Farkaslaka, in Romania.

200 sqms of the one-storey dormitory’s wall collapsed. Authorities believe a company digging down more than two metres near the wall was responsible for the tragedy. Students said that cracks appeared on the wall of the building after the work started near the wall of the student hostel. They even felt the building was moving under their feet.

Sándor László Szilveszter, the company’s CEO, is currently in custody. Based on the investigators, he commanded workers to dig down two metres near the dormitory wall even though the architect allowed only 1.1 metres.

The CEO had not been in the dormitory and did not know there were students.

UPDATE: Foreign ministry sending HUF 5 m in emergency aid to secondary school

Hungary’s foreign ministry is sending 5 million forints (EUR 13,050) in emergency aid to the Tamási Áron Secondary School in Odorheiu Secuiesc (Székelyudvarhely), in central Romania, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Friday. A 17-year-old boy died on Monday when around one-third of the school’s student hostel collapsed after the building’s exterior wall came down. Another three girls were pulled from the rubble, one of whom was seriously injured.

The ministry is sending the aid in collaboration with the Hungary Helps humanitarian programme and Hungarian Interchurch Aid, Szijjarto said on Facebook, adding that the money will go towards supporting the students affected by the tragedy and their families.

The minister said those affected by the tragedy will be given all the help they need. He expressed the ministry’s condolences to the family of the student who died and said they were praying for the speedy recovery of those injured.

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Tragedy in Hungary: Dead two-year-old child brought to police station in car boot – Read more HERE
Tragedy: Man falls from fourth floor of Budapest mall

December 22, 2023

Romania preceded Hungary again: Hungarians second poorest in the EU

market újpest hungary price vegetable fruit food

Based on consumption per capita, Hungary is the second poorest country in the European Union preceded only by Bulgaria at the negative end of the list. Even Romania preceded Hungary in that respect and many other factors.

According to index.hu, consumption per capita is very different in the EU countries and regions. Eurostat said in their latest survey that the highest consumption per capita was in Luxemburg, Austria, and Germany compared to the EU’s average. According to their list, consumption is the second lowest in Hungary. Only Bulgarians are poorer than the Hungarians. Meanwhile, Hungary joined the EU almost 20 years ago, in 2004, and received lots of EU development money. Bulgaria joined the community only in 2007, together with Romania, but Romanians have become richer than the Hungarians in the last almost two decades.

Eurostat, the European Union’s statistics institution, measured actual individual consumption (AIC) in 2022 and data ranged between the 69% and 138% of the EU average. On the top of the list is Luxemburg. There, people consume 38% more than the average EU citizen. Austria and Germany follow the small Western European state with 18%.

In 2022, nine EU member states were above the EU average, the Eurostat report said.

Only Bulgaria performed worse than Hungary in this respect. The Bulgarians’ actual consumption is only 69% of the EU average, while that rate is only 71% in Hungary. The consumption of Bulgarians increased by 4% compared to 2021. Romanians are currently at 86% of the EU average.

Croatia and Latvia follow Hungary on the other end of the list with 76-76%.

Hungary struggled with the highest inflation in the European Union after the Orbán cabinet’s fourth landslide victory in 2022. Among the reasons, experts mention the increased government expenditures before the elections, the energy crisis, the war in Ukraine and the import-based Hungarian energy sector. Since salaries could not follow skyrocketing inflation, people in Hungary cut their consumption radically in the last few months.

Construction sector output flat in October

The output of Hungary’s construction sector in October edged up an annual 0.1%, after falling by 6.0% in the previous month, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) said on Friday. Output of the buildings segment grew by 2.0% while civil engineering output slipped by 2.6%.

In absolute terms, construction sector output was worth 660 billion forints in October. The buildings segment accounted for 61% of the total. Month on month, construction sector output rose by 1.0 pc, adjusted for seasonal and working-day effects. Construction sector output fell by 4.2% in January-October from the base period.

Read also:

Hungary struggles at the bottom in Europe’s happiness ranking – Read more HERE
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December 15, 2023

DNA of our Romanian neighbours has shown that their theory of origins needs to be rethought

Romanians will be surprised by a recent study that has established their ancestry based on DNA.

Pioneering DNA research covering Bulgaria, northern Macedonia, Serbia, Romania, Albania and Greece has led to startling discoveries about the genetic make-up of the Balkan population, Novinite reports.

The Romanian genome is 50-60 percent Slavic in origin, similar to Balkan countries such as Bulgaria and Croatia

The research, a collaboration between Serbian, Spanish and American scientists, sheds light on the prevalence of Slavic genes in the region.

And it’s all for nothing. According to the results, published by the Serbian agency Tanjug, Bulgarians, Romanians and Croats have the highest concentration of Slavic genes. In contrast, Greeks have the lowest concentration of this genetic heritage, ranging from 4 to 20 percent.

There are several theories among the Romanians as to where they actually originated, but the state theory is that the Romanians of Transylvania were inhabitants of the former Roman Dacia, descendants of Romanised Dacians and Roman settlers, and are therefore the ancestral inhabitants of Transylvania.

However, after the latest findings, Romanians may reconsider their genealogy, because it seems that the Dacian-Romanian theory, which has been promoted for decades, based on the affinity between Romance and Latin, has failed.

The primary aim of the study was to show the continuity of genetic traits between modern Balkan inhabitants and ancient populations from the Bronze Age, reflecting two millennia of genetic population shifts and migration patterns.

As the site states:

‘This comprehensive analysis not only sheds light on the distribution of Slavic genetic heritage, but also provides insights into the complex genetic composition and historical migrations that shaped the different populations of the Balkans.

It seems that the Romanian origin theory, questioned by many, has to face new facts.

As we wrote a few days ago, a new Romanian proposal would split Szeklerland in two, details HERE.

December 11, 2023

Traffic on Hungarian roads is heavy, so trucks heading to Ukraine are diverted to Romania

M0 Hungary Budapest traffic cars transport hungarian motorway

The measure does not apply to passenger cars, but heavy traffic at the exit points sometimes causes congestion.

Due to congestion at the border crossing points on the Ukrainian-Hungarian border, at the Borsókút rest area at km 82 on the M3 motorway towards Vásárosnamény, at the Geleji rest area at km 142, the police are diverting truck traffic to Ukraine and directing trucks to the M35 – M4 motorway route, towards the Nagykerek border crossing, according to a statement by Útinform on Monday morning. The measure does not apply to passenger cars, but vehicles are sometimes congested at the exit points due to heavy traffic.

As we wrote today Bus drivers’ strike could cause huge chaos in Hungary on Monday.

Traffic is also heavy on the roads leading to Budapest, with saturated lanes

on the access section of the M3 motorway,
on the main road 10 in Solymár,
on the main road 11 at Leányfalu
and main road 51 in the Dunaharaszti area.

In Komárom-Esztergom county, the section between Tardos and Bikol on the road between Süttő and Vértestolna is still impassable due to trees and tree felling. The village of Pilisszentlélek is raining on this section, but local residents are being let off.

This is what the roads will look like in Hungary today – December 11, 2024

Overcast, cloudy, and foggy in the capital and east of the Danube, with drizzle in the Szombathely and Csorna areas, Útinform says.

The pavement of expressways and main and secondary roads is mostly salty and sometimes wet due to preventive protection.

Visibility is moderate in the northern central hills, in the central areas of the Great Plain and in the Tárnok area, with visibility between 100-300 m.Fog patches near Bicske and Szentendre make driving difficult, while in Fejér, Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok and Csongrád-Csanád counties, humidity is reported.

In the Tapolca area, southerly winds are moderate (30-39 km/h), while elsewhere the winds are light or calm.

Temperatures vary between -2 and +6 degrees C.

As we wrote before, paid parking zones in Budapest are in total disarray

December 11, 2023

Romania will help Hungary’s battery revolution with energy, electricity?

It seems that Hungarian battery plants will use Romanian energy, but that is bad news for Putin and his regime.

According to telex.hu, Péter Szijjártó, Hungary’s foreign minister, travelled to Bucharest weeks ago to sign an important deal with the Romanian government. At first, they agreed to extend gas transport capacities between the two countries. Furthermore, they did so in the case of electricity transportation.

Of course, it is not Hungary that would export energy or electricity to Romania. That is because Romania has every chance to become one of the crucial energy exporters of the region in 5-10 years. Instead, the Hungarian battery plants will work with Romanian electricity and gas.

Romania acquires 1/4 of its electricity consumption with the help of hydroelectric power plants. Moreover, the backbone of that system is pump storage plants. Therefore, the system’s regulation ability is significant compared to the size of the country, telex.hu wrote. That means Romanians can build as many solar and wind power farms as they want because the system will not collapse like in Hungary, where energy (e.g. following a series of summer sunny days) cannot be stored.

Romania will help Hungary become independent from Russia?

Furthermore, they would like to build nuclear power plants with American help. Therefore, Romania will be able to export large amounts of electricity soon. Meanwhile, Hungary attracts energy-intensive activities like battery manufacturing or carmaking.

Hungary is highly dependent on foreign gas transfers. 80% comes from abroad, mainly from Russia. Meanwhile, Romania has a gas field in the Black Sea (Neptune), where the first molecules will come out in 2027-2028, thanks to Romanian-Austrian cooperation.

Concerning gas, Romania may substitute 20-40% of the Russian import, which is considerable. Furthermore, Romania can produce electricity with gas. As a result, Romania may become Hungary’s biggest gas supplier behind Russia by the 2030s.

That might be bad news for Putin and his regime. PM Orbán and FM Szijjártó regularly highlight that Hungary is dependent on Russia. That is why Hungary cannot give the green light to sanctions concerning the sectors. Others believe there are political reasons behind that cabinet standpoint, and the cooperation between Orbán and Putin will not stop even after a possible gas secession.

Read also:

Hungarian FM wants to preserve stable and fair cooperation with Russia – Read more HERE
Why are more than a million Hungarians very sad today, while Romanians celebrate? – Details in THIS article

December 8, 2023

New Romanian proposal would split Szeklerland in two

Romania is currently contemplating significant administrative reforms that could reshape the country’s county structure. The Romanian proposal, pushed by business and academia, seeks to reduce the existing 41 counties to just 15, excluding Bucharest.

Support for reform and political realities

According to Index, the basis for reorganisation would be the population of small towns and cities, with a suggestion that municipalities should have a population of at least 5,000 and cities at least 10,000. Proponents argue that such a restructuring would enhance the efficiency of Romania’s administrative machinery. Bogdan Daniel Vișan, president of the Romanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, supports the idea, emphasising the need to define population thresholds for municipalities and cities. Additionally, Romania’s social-democratic prime minister, Marcel Ciolacu, acknowledges the necessity of administrative reform but cautions that it cannot be achieved overnight. He specifies that any reorganisation would not take place before the 2024 parliamentary elections.

Transylvanian counties: a controversial aspect

While the proposal respects historical borders in Romania, concerns arise regarding its impact on cultural, demographic and historical aspects, particularly in Transylvania. Szeklerland, with a 38% Hungarian population in Mures county, faces division, raising questions about autonomy. In a particularly problematic move, Harghita and Covasna, with 85% and 74% Hungarian populations respectively, would be merged with Brasov. This not only eliminates any prospect of autonomy but also dilutes the Hungarian majority in the resulting county to 43%, a significant shift from the current demographics.

Romanian counties — Source: FB/Tudor Benga

Another potential disadvantage for Hungarians in Slovakia

Slovakia, Romania’s neighbour, is also undergoing administrative reforms, with leaked proposals suggesting significant changes. The existing system, designed without Hungarian-majority administrative units, is undergoing potential modifications that may disadvantage the Hungarian community. Despite a recognised need for reform, Slovak politicians are hesitant to challenge the existing system established by Vladimir Mečiar. The proposed changes could potentially undermine Hungarian interests politically and economically. The leaked proposal in Slovakia suggests a less favourable scenario for Hungarians than the current system. Specifics include annexing Šamorín to Bratislava, merging Trnava and Nitra into a larger administrative unit and abolishing the Hungarian-majority Komárno district.

Balancing efficiency and minority rights

As Romania and Slovakia contemplate administrative reforms, the delicate balance between efficiency and the protection of minority rights, particularly those of the Hungarian communities, remains a critical consideration. The outcomes of these proposed changes will likely shape the political and cultural landscape in both countries for years to come. Discover the latest events unfolding in Szeklerland by reading our article about watch fires demanding the autonomy of Szeklerland in Romania.

December 7, 2023

BREAKING! Leaked: Pfizer-BioNtech sued Hungary

Politico has obtained a document revealing that Pfizer-BioNTech initiated legal proceedings against the Hungarian government in January. Surprisingly, both the company and the Orbán cabinet have maintained complete silence on this matter. Delve into the details below to understand this conflict broke out.

According to Politico, the company brought the case to a Belgian court. “Discussions with the government in Budapest are ongoing”, a spokesperson of the firm highlighted. But what prompted this legal dispute?

The Hungarian government had ordered 3 million BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine doses, amounting to approximately EUR 60 million. However, they not only declined to accept the delivery but also refused payment. The cabinet communicated this decision to the company in November 2022, citing the financial strain caused by the influx of refugees from the war in Ukraine.

Interestingly, Pfizer sought a fast-tracked judgment, but a judge dismissed that request in March.

This is not an isolated incident, as Pfizer has initiated a similar process against Poland. In that instance, the quantity of vaccines is substantially larger – precisely 60 million doses worth EUR 1.2 billion. Warsaw had declared in April 2022 that they were unable to accept and pay for the vaccine package due to the impact of the war in Ukraine and the surge of Ukrainian refugees.

Romania, European Commission also on the ‘death list’ of Pfizer-BioNTech

Legal cases concerning vaccines and COVID-19 are proliferating. For instance, in Romania, prosecutors aim to sue a former prime minister and two health ministers because they allegedly bought too many vaccines and, as a result, caused EUR 1 billion in damage to the state budget.

Adding to the complexity, a Belgian lobbyist has filed a lawsuit against Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. He asserts that she played a role in brokering the EU’s largest vaccine deal involving 1.1 billion doses. Scandals involving von der Leyen and the German company abound, with the President acknowledging in a New York Times interview that she exchanged text messages with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla regarding the procurement of a substantial volume of vaccines.

Read also:

Pfizer produces spectacular numbers, the Chinese vaccine is fishy – Read more HERE
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December 5, 2023

International train between Hungary and Romania ceases operation

From 10 December, when MÁV’s new timetable comes into force, trains between Mátészalka, Hungary and Nagykároly in Romania will stop running. The trains will only run to Tiborszállás, Hungary.

According to a statement of Közlekedő Tömeg (Travelling Masses) sent to Portfolio, the measure will result in the complete closure of public transport between the towns of Northern Partium, which is largely populated by Hungarians, and neighbouring settlements in Hungary.

In addition to the closure of this railway line, according to information from Közlekedő Tömeg, passenger transport will also be completely closed on the lines that were closed in August and have since been replaced by buses.

The measure, which is expected to come into force on 1 January and is again timed to coincide with the holidays, would be backed up by the low bus occupancy rate, according to the association.

The 2023/2024 timetable is available HERE, while the timetables for each line can be found HERE.

Read also:

Significant delays and cancellations concerning international trains in Hungary – read more HERE
Truck drivers flooded Hungary, border crossing fell: queue lasts 48h – details HERE

December 4, 2023

Why are more than a million Hungarians very sad today, while Romanians celebrate?

Hungarians are sad while Romanians are happy today

1 December is Romania’s most important national day, during which they celebrate the ‘reunification’ with Transylvania, where even today more than a million Hungarians live. But why is 1 December so important, and why is it a sad anniversary for Hungarians living there?

Hungary was part of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire during WWI. That meant Hungarian soldiers fought shoulder to shoulder with their Austrian, Czech, Slovakian, Romanian, and Serbian allies (the empire’s nationalities) against Serbia, Romania, Russia and Italy. Interestingly, Hungary’s prime minister, István Tisza, was against going to war against Serbia after the assassination of Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo. Tisza knew that a world war could bring them to the brink of destruction of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

He was correct. After the lost war, all nationalities decided to leave the dualist monarchy. Some had to create or recreate their countries after hundreds of years of union like Croatia, the Czechs or the Slovaks. Meanwhile, others could join their home country, like the Serbs or the Romanians.

Transylvania, the Tiszántúl, the Partium and the Banat that Romania claimed from Hungary were at least multiethnic in 1918 autumn. Millions of Romanians lived in these regions but were not in a majority, only in a few towns and lots of villages, mainly on the border of Transylvania, the Banat and Partium.

Of course, nobody was interested in creating borders following the ethnic maps. In Versailles, the French were given the power to decide about Central Europe’s fate, and wanted strong allies in this region. Therefore, they created a big and strong Romania, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia alongside Poland.

French decided about Hungary’s fate

However, they did not inform the newly-formed Hungarian government led by Count Mihály Károlyi. Károlyi wanted peace, but he also wanted to preserve the old borders of the Hungarian Kingdom. He disbanded the army and hoped the new world order would follow US President Wilson’s idea about a Commonwealth. As a result, Hungarian troops did not withstand the conquering Romanian army in Transylvania until the end of November 1918.

Furthermore, since they hoped territorial autonomy would be enough for Romanians (Serbians, Ruthenians, Slovakians), the Hungarian government supported the Great National Assembly of Alba Iulia (Gyulafehérvár) of the Romanians. For example, Hungarian State Railways (MÁV) trains carried the partakers.

There, Romanian delegates voted for the reunification of Romania with Transylvania, Partium, Banat and even the Tiszántúl. On the other hand, they granted autonomy to the Hungarians (and Germans) living in the new ‘Romanian Empire’.

Such assemblies might be celebrated by a nation but rarely played a decisive part in history. In short, Paris decided Romania’s and Hungary’s fate not Alba Iulia. That is clear from the fact that on 22 December, there was a similar assembly for the Hungarians in Kolozsvár (Cluj Napoca), where Hungarians voted for remaining in Hungary. Nobody cared.

Romanians did not keep their promises

The French decided in Versailles that Romania may get Transylvania, the Banat and Partium. However, Bucharest could not extend its rule to the Tiszántúl. As a result, Szeged and Debrecen or Nyíregyháza remained part of Hungary.

However, Romanians believe that their great national assembly played an important part in 1918. That is why they celebrate it while most Hungarians remain home on this day because they have nothing to celebrate. They did not receive territorial or any other kind of autonomy because nobody ever kept their promises made in Alba Iulia. Instead, they constantly fight to be able to use their mother tongue and cultural institutions, and preserve their education system.

Romania had not become a home for most Hungarians living there.

And why do Romanians think what happened was a reunification? In Romanian history, the Romanians are the descendants of the Romans conquering Dacia in the 2nd century AD. Therefore, they believe they were in Transylvania earlier than the Hungarians, who arrived ‘just’ in the 9th century.

Scholars do not accept the Romanian explanation of that story. They believe Romanians came from somewhere in the Balkans in the 12th and 13th centuries. The first written sources from the Transylvanian Romanians are from the 13th century, following the Mongol invasion.

Read also:

Romanians outperform Hungarians, only the Bulgarians live worse than us – Read more HERE
100th anniversary: the loss of Transylvania – Details in THIS article

December 1, 2023

Corrupt anti-Hungarian mayor escapes to Hungary

Romanian media is abuzz with the escape of Cătălin Cherecheș to Hungary.

Just a day before his dramatic flight, Cherecheș declared his innocence, vowing to do everything within his power to restore his family’s honour.

Dubious politics

Having served as the mayor of Baia Mare since 2011, Cherecheș secured re-election in both 2016 and 2020. He was notoriously anti-Hungarian, which he demonstrated on multiple occasions. One of his antics included draping Romanian flags over the Hungarian signage of a chimney cake stand during Baia Mare’s annual chestnut festival. Another notable incident involved his assertion that Hungarian children in Baia Mare would benefit more from attending a multilingual institution than having a separate Hungarian school.

He enjoyed the support of the majority of Baia Mare despite his aggressive politics and the corruption charges against him. These charges stated he allegedly accepted bribes and committed financial misconducts within a trading company, both of which are punishable by law.

Court sentence

Facing corruption accusations since 2016, Cherecheș appealed for a reduced sentence, but the Cluy County Court of Appeals not only rejected the plea but marginally extended the ban on him holding public office. The court seized his Porche Cayenne and two properties as compensation, imposing a fine of 65,000 Romanian lei or 5,000 EUR for damages. A judge involved in the case was subsequently targeted in an attempted bribe, leading to the arrest of Cherecheș’s mother-in-law for bribery.

Cherecheș has been placed under judicial supervision and was supposed to report to the police twice a week. His last visit occurred on the 20th of November. The court announced the final verdict on Friday, condemning Cherecheș to five years of prison time.

Daring escape

According to media reports, Cherecheș was seen entering and leaving the city hall in the early hours of Friday, after which he departed for the Csengersima- Pete border crossing were he slipped through the border using the passport of a maternal cousin. In the words of Cătălin Predoiu, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Cherecheș is “temporarily thwarting his criminal accountability.”

Romania is shaken up by this heinous security breach, prompting the removal of the region’s special operations leader and the county’s border police chief by the head of internal intelligence services (DGPI). An investigation into DGPI’s effectiveness, requested by the Minister of Internal Affairs, must report results to Romanian police leaders by 6 December. An international arrest warrant is now issued for the fugitive Baia Mare mayor.

Read more about Hungarians abroad HERE.
Read more about foreigners in Hungary HERE.

November 29, 2023

Is a disaster coming? Shocking decline of Hungarians living beyond the borders

The Hungarian population, not only within the borders of Hungary itself but also beyond, is facing a concerning decline. Regions such as Transylvania, Transcarpathia, Vojvodina and even Upper Hungary are witnessing a significant decrease in their Hungarian inhabitants.

Experts’ opinions

According to a report by 444, a conference addressing population decline in Central Europe saw insights shared by experts such as Irén Gábrity Molnár, László Józsa, Tamás Korhecz, Katalin Kovály, Patrik Tátrai, Péter Vataščin, and Valér Veres. The consensus among experts is that the declining Hungarian population extends beyond Hungary itself to Hungarians residing outside the country. In Transylvania, a striking trend emerged, with one-third of the Hungarian population disappearing over a span of 35 years. Transcarpathia witnesses a similar unsettling pattern, with only slightly over half of the population remaining compared to two decades ago. The 2022 census results in Vojvodina are deemed a demographic disaster. Even in Felvidék, where the situation is relatively better, the number of Hungarians is on the decline. This prompts the crucial question: Can the ongoing depopulation be halted?

Transylvania: vanishing identities

In Transylvania, a startling statistic emerges – one-third of the Hungarian population has vanished within a mere 35 years. The latest census data from Romania, however, is met with skepticism. According to Tamás Kiss, a researcher at the Institute for Minority Studies, methodological errors cast doubt on the accuracy of the figures. Kiss suggests that Romania has an interest in portraying inflated numbers, as the reality might lead to reduced EU funding. According to Valér Veres, the number of ethnic Hungarians is at 1.1 million, a figure steadily decreasing since the 1977 census, which counted 1.7 million Hungarians. Intriguingly, the loss of identity seems less significant in Hungarian-Swabian and Hungarian-Romanian relations but holds pronounced importance in Hungarian-Romanian relations. This phenomenon indicates a growing trend where native Hungarian speakers are increasingly identifying themselves as Romanian in census declarations.

Transcarpathia: the impact of external factors

The situation in Transcarpathia is complex, with external factors playing a significant role. The last census in Ukraine dates back to 2001, making it challenging to assess the current state accurately. However, since 2017, the estimated number of Hungarians has dropped, exacerbated by the Russian attack in February 2022. Katalin Kovály predicts a continued exodus, especially from Hungarian villages, due to the ongoing war.

Upper Hungary: resilience amidst decline

Hungary’s cross-border population is more resilient in Upper Hungary. Despite a decrease in Hungary’s overall population, the region has only experienced an 8% decline. Assimilation, rather than emigration or natural decrease, stands out as the main factor. Patrik Tátrai emphasises that, unlike in other regions, assimilation is more common among young men than women.

Vojvodina: Serbia’s alarming situation

While Romania faces a decline in the Hungarian population, Serbia, particularly Vojvodina, presents the most alarming scenario in the Carpathian Basin. The 2022 census indicates 184,000 Hungarians, a significant drop from nearly 500,000 in 1961. Emigration, natural decline, and assimilation are identified as the primary reasons for this distressing trend.

Can this concerning decline be stopped?

The data paints a grim picture of the Hungarian population’s decline beyond Hungary’s borders. As experts debate the accuracy of census figures and assess the impact of various factors, the pressing question remains: Can this depopulation be stopped? The future may depend on effective policies, international cooperation, and a commitment to preserving the cultural tapestry of Hungarian communities dispersed across Central Europe. For further insights, explore the government’s initiative to bring Hungarians living abroad back home by reading our article HERE.

November 27, 2023

From Bucharest to New York, the 120th anniversary of János Neumann is being celebrated

On the occasion of the 120th anniversary of the birth of John von Neumann, the namesake and inventor of the operating principle of today’s computers, the John von Neumann Computer Society is participating in prestigious events organized in the United States, the Netherlands, Serbia, and Romania.

Budapest, November 24, 2023. In addition to numerous domestic programs in the #neumann120 memorial year in 2023, significant events are being celebrated beyond the borders at the end of November in honor of the 120th anniversary of the birth of the world-renowned mathematician John von Neumann.

Celebratory conference and gala in New York

As part of the American series of events, a reception was held at the Hungarian Consulate in New York on November 8, where, in recognition of decades of work and, in particular, for preserving Neumann’s scientific legacy, Professor Péter Dávid Lax, an Abel Prize laureate who had previously worked under Neumann’s direction in the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos, was awarded the Commander’s Cross with Star of the Hungarian Order of Merit by the decision of the President of the Republic. This year, due to his age, the 97-year-old Péter Lax was represented by his son, James D. Lax, who received the award on his behalf.

The following day, a full-day interdisciplinary conference based on John von Neumann’s scientific achievements took place at New York University. The panel discussions and presentations covered questions related to the future development of artificial intelligence, the possibilities of artificial intelligence in medicine, the physical sciences, economics, and social sciences. A gala dinner was held at the prestigious National Museum of Mathematics after the conference, where Ananyo Bhattacharya, the author of the book ’The Man from the Future: The Visionary Ideas of John von Neumann’ which was also published in Hungarian this year, delivered a keynote address. The event was addressed by Tamás Novák, scientific and technological attaché, John Overdeck, founder of the National Museum of Mathematics, and David Nirenberg, the newly appointed director of the Institute of Advanced Study.

For the participants from Hungary, Tamás Novák, the scientific and technological attaché, organized a visit to Princeton on November 10, during which the participants visited the graves of John von Neumann and physicist Eugene Wigner.

Neumann Memorial Conference in Subotica (Szabadka), Serbia

On the occasion of the Hungarian Science Festival on November 6, the Vojvodina Hungarian Academy Council organized a Neumann Memorial Conference in Subotica for the #neumann120 memorial year. During the full-day program organized at the Hungarian-language Teacher Training College, participants heard lectures on John von Neumann’s life and scientific achievements in the fields of computer science, game theory, economic-mathematical applications, and artificial intelligence. Representing the Neumann Society, Gábor Képes presented the stages of the polymath Neumann’s career.

The event was realized with the joint support of the Vojvodina Hungarian Academy Council, the Hungarian Teacher Training College of the University of Novi Sad, Óbuda University, and the Hungarian Fuzzy Society, operating as a section of the Neumann Society.

Neumann Symposium in the Netherlands

On November 27, the Embassy of Hungary in the Netherlands is organizing a Neumann Symposium in Delft: András Kocsis, the Hungarian ambassador in The Hague, will deliver a welcome address, and Ananyo Bhattacharya, who wrote the biography of the genius, will give the opening lecture on the life of John von Neumann.

Eric van Damme, professor of economics at Tilburg University, will speak on game theory, Gábor Elek, mathematician and scientific advisor of the MTA Rényi Alfréd Mathematical Research Institute, will deliver a lecture titled “The Neumann Dimension,” and Professor Georgi Gaydadjiev, computer architecture professor at Tilburg University, will summarize the history of post-Neumann era computing.

In Bucharest, Neumann, the polymath, will be presented

On November 28, John von Neumann will be presented as the polymath by János Varga, a Neumann researcher, at the Liszt Institute Hungarian Cultural Center in Bucharest. On the occasion of the anniversary, the institute will hold a scientific and educational presentation, which is partly addressed to the professional audience and partly to the students and teachers of the Ady Endre Theoretical High School in Bucharest.

For students, learning about John von Neumann’s outstanding contributions to the logical design of electronic computers can be fascinating. The close relationship of today’s younger generations with computers can provide a good foundation for understanding where it all started. The event will also showcase the digital display created by the Neumann Society and HUN-REN SZTAKI about Neumann’s life.

The Neumann Society, celebrating its 55th anniversary this year, has dedicated the entire year of 2023 to the Neumann 120 jubilee year. The neumann120.hu celebration site presents videos, photos, publications, and other interesting materials related to John von Neumann’s life and career, alongside domestic and foreign events.

About the Neumann Society

The John von Neumann Computer Society is the oldest and most prestigious national information technology organization. Since its founding in 1968, it has played a prominent role in creating digital equality. Among its activities, it emphasizes IT talent development, serving as the main organizer of the Nemes Tihamér Competitions and the National Graphic Programming Competition for decades, and preparing teams for student Olympiads (IOI, CEOI, EGOI, eJOI, IIOT). It is the introducer and operator of the ICDL exam system, which provides an international certificate. It is the founder and maintainer of the Information Technology Historical Museum in the Szent-Györgyi Albert Agora in Szeged. The society’s goal is to serve as the digital world’s GPS, helping navigate the information society.

November 27, 2023

PHOTOS: Beautiful Hungarian castle renewed

Hungary is full of beautiful castles built in Baroque style in the 18th century. One of them belonged once to the Historic Bánffy family officials and military leaders of the Habsburg Empire Hungary was part of. Now, their castle in Válaszút was renewed with the help of the Hungarian government.

Válaszút is a small village of less than 1,800 inhabitants 25 km from Kolozsvár (Cluj Napoca) in Romania. Roughly 15% of the locals are Hungarians, the rest are Romanian nationals. Interestingly, the village had a Romanian majority even before the Peace Treaty of Trianon (1920), with more than 58% Romanians. And why can it become a tourist hotspot? Because the settlement hosts one of the most beautiful Hungarian castles, once belonging to the Historic Bánffy family.

There were six different Bánffy families in Hungary’s history. Three of them died out. One in 1357, the other in 1644, while the third in 1950. The latter is the “losonci” Bánffy family, the castle belonged to them once.

Beautifully renewed Hungarian castle close to international airport

According to travelo.hu, the renewed castle belongs to the Council of Cluj (Kolozs) County. It was renovated because the institution would like to create a cultural centre. The reconstruction took more than five years, during which both its interior, the facades and the park were restored with the help of EU and council sources.

After WWII, it functioned as an orphanage. That is when its state rapidly deteriorated.

The renewed castle was inaugurated by Andrei, the Orthodox archbishop and Metropolit of Kolozsvár (Cluj Napoca), but representatives of the Roman Catholic and Reformed churches also attended the celebration.

István Vákár, the Hungarian VP of the Council, said the inauguration was a historic moment and a real milestone in rescuing the Hungarian-related buildings in Cluj County. He said the castle was a jewel.

The castle’s value is that its wooden interior remained intact. Unfortunately, in 99% of the Transylvanian castles, the opposite is the case. Furthermore, the building has its unique and original tile stove awarded at one of the Paris world fairs.

The castle was a summer residence of the Bánffy family, getting its shape in the 19th century.

Read also:

The most beautiful castles in Hungary – details and photos HERE
5 magical Hungarian castles you must visit- Read more in THIS article

Here are some more photos:

November 26, 2023