Szeklerland

Hungary’s culture minister explores strengthening ties with Transylvania’s cultural and educational institutions

hankó culture transylvania2

The minister of culture and innovation discussed ways to improve and tighten cooperation between the Hungarian government and institutions involved in culture, education and family affairs during a two-day visit to Szekler Land and Transylvania.

Balázs Hankó held talks on Tuesday with officials from Harghita County and Miercurea Ciuc (Csíkszereda), Romanian Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Barna Tánczos. He added that on Wednesday he had met leaders of the Sapientia – Hungarian University of Transylvania in Sfantu Gheorghe (Sepsiszentgyörgy) and viewed the location for a planned new university campus. He said they had discussed the university’s plans to become one of the top ten universities in Romania for which the Hungarian government would also provide support.

He added that he had also held talks with the Mayor of Sfantu Gheorghe, Arpad Antal, as well as the heads of local institutions. He said that at a meeting with the theatre directors of Sfantu Gheorghe and Targu Secuiesc (Kézdivásárhely), they had discussed ways to boost activities involving children, considering that 2025 has been designated as a year for children in the county.

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Anniversary of the Madéfalva massacre commemorated in Romania

Anniversary of the Madéfalva massacre commemorated in Romania

Balázs Hankó, the minister of culture and innovation, on Tuesday attended a commemoration of the Madefalva Massacre in Siculeni (Madéfalva), Romania, in which hundreds of Szekler Hungarians were slain by Austrian troops in 1764.

On January 7, 1764, the troops of Maria Theresa, Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary, retaliated for a protest by some 2,500 Szeklers who refused to serve in the Austrian army under command in German.

“The martyrs of Madéfalva serve as a reminder that we should always have the courage to stand up for our rights and our truth,” Hankó said in his speech at the Siculicidium memorial.

Anniversary of the Madéfalva massacre commemorated in Romania
Anniversary of the Madéfalva massacre commemorated in Romania. Photo: MTI

“Hungarians today have to fight to ensure that no decisions about them are made without them and to ensure that everyone belonging to the Hungarian nation feels that they belong somewhere, and that their way of life, language, faith and rights are secure,” he added.

Barna Tánczos, Romania’s finance minister, said the Szekler people could be counted on today just as they could be in the past. The politician from the Hungarian Democratic Alliance of Romania (RMDSZ) also pointed out that the Szeklers joined the army of the monarchy, which slaughtered their ancestors because they were not driven by revenge and anger but by wisdom and common sense. He said that those present could look back on the past year and be proud of their community for having shown its strength in an election year.

“We have shown that we are still a strong community. A community to be reckoned with, but a community that can be counted on at any time in Romania.”

– he said.

read also: Are Romania and Bulgaria ahead of Hungary in adopting the euro?

Wizz Air expands flights to a beloved Eastern European city for the holiday season

Brasov, Romania DRacula's castle Hungarian Days festival Wizz Air

Wizz Air’s direct flight from Budapest to Brașov (Romania), launched in the summer, has quickly gained popularity, prompting the low-cost airline to boost its service frequency over the holiday season. Between December 17 and January 11, the airline will increase the number of flights heading to Budapest.

Wizz Air to fly the Budapest-Brașov route more frequently

According to information shared by the local international airport and reported by Maszol on Monday, Wizz Air will offer additional flights between Budapest and Brașov during the holiday period. Instead of the usual three flights per week, passengers can now look forward to four weekly departures—on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays—from 17 December through 11 January.

Brasov, Romania DRacula's castle Hungarian Days festival wizz air
Brassó (Brașov) in Transylvania, Romania. Source: depositphotos.com

Wizz Air inaugurated this route on 2 July, emphasising its significance for both cities and countries alike. This new connection primarily enhances access to the Szekler Land region from Hungary’s capital, as the city is closer to several Szekler settlements than other airports with direct flights to Budapest.

Maszol highlighted data from recent months that clearly reflects the route’s strong demand, with 5,000–6,000 monthly travelers between the two cities and occupancy rates exceeding 80%.

The international airport of Brașov, which opened in June 2023, is Romania’s first greenfield airport since the fall of the Iron Curtain. Its establishment was heavily backed by local councils in the Szekler Land, who view the airport as a vital link connecting the region’s Hungarian-speaking communities with the wider world.

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Featured image: depositphotos.com

Hungarian minister: Government takes responsibility for Hungarian communities across the border

transylvania school szeklerland hungarians abroad

Hungary’s government bears responsibility for the fate of Hungarian communities beyond the border, Balázs Hankó, the minister of culture and innovation, said on Saturday in Odorheiu Secuiesc (Székelyudvarhely), where he inaugurated a new building of a Reformed Church school.

Its aim is to foster the survival and development of these communities and nurture the intellectual and spiritual unity of the nation, he said.

transylvania school szeklerland
Balázs Hankó, Minister of Culture and Innovation, speaks at the opening ceremony of the joint academic year of the Transylvanian and Partium Reformed Colleges in the downtown Reformed Church of Odorheiu Secuiesc on 21 September 2024. Photo: MTI/Kiss Gábor

At the opening of the school year of the Romanian Reformed schools in the city of Szekler Land (Székelyföld), Hankó said Hungarians in the motherland and beyond were part of a nation “that has stood proudly in central Europe for more than a thousand years”.

The nation parts were linked by “a common history and culture”, and they would also “build the future together”. Kelemen Hunor, the leader of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (RMDSZ), also attended the ceremony.

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VIDEO, PHOTOS: Hungarian pianist sets new Guinness record by playing at 5,800 metres

Zoltán Thurzó, a world-renowned Hungarian pianist born and living in Nagyvárad, Romania, has set a new Guinness record in the Himalayas. He played nine classical pieces and the national anthems of four countries at almost 5,800 metres high under challenging conditions. However, he has even bigger ambitions ahead.

Military checkpoints, piano and an astonishing environment

Blikk, a Hungarian tabloid, interviewed Mr Thurzó by phone following his new Guinness record. Thurzó played the piano on the highest paved road in the world, located in the Himalayas, setting a new Guinness record. He explained that the Umling La Pass is on the border of India, Pakistan, Jammu, and South China. The route is difficult to traverse due to the many hairpin bends leading up from the Indus River valley.

New Guinness record phone interview Zoltán Thurzó (Copy)
Photo: FB/Zoltán Thurzó

Furthermore, given the military activity in the region, they had to cross numerous checkpoints, verify their identity and purpose, and explain why they were transporting a 325 kg piano. The rented instrument was transported from Mumbai to New Delhi, with the help of Dr Mariann Erdő, the Hungarian leader of the local Liszt Institute. We have previously written about the institute’s activities in THIS, THIS and THIS articles.

Interestingly, Mr Thurzó held the previous Guinness record, set in June 2022 on Mount Everest at a height of 5,325 metres and 77 centimetres, where a helicopter transported his instrument. This time, he went even higher.

Hungarian pianist set new Guinness record_indian
Photo: FB/Zoltán Thurzó

New Guinness record at 5,800 metres

At nearly 5,800 metres, the oxygen level drops to 50%, Mr Thurzó told Blikk. The conditions were challenging despite the desert-like environment covered with ice crystals being astonishing. He said they started after daybreak and were fortunate as the snowfall stopped five minutes after their arrival and resumed only after the new Guinness record was set.

Hungarian pianist set new Guinness record_piano
Mr Thurzó and his piano 5,800 metres high. Photo: FB/Zoltán Thurzó

He played the piano in the Himalayas for 31 minutes and 42 seconds while the temperature was below 0°C but felt like -10°C due to the strong winds. He spent 6.5 hours there.

As a result, he wore a heat-resistant jacket, two tracksuits, three pairs of mountaineering socks and a hat, which he removed during the national anthems. He played the national anthems of Hungary, Szeklerland, Romania, and India.

Here is the video of the Szekler national anthem:

All his records serve a sublime purpose

Mr Thurzó told Blikk that he was born in Nagyvárad (Oradea, Romania) and aims to create a private musical museum in the city. He sets records to raise awareness and funds for this purpose.

With the Romanian and the Szekler flags:

He said he would even travel to the other side of the world but emphasised that he would always return because he has a mission in Nagyvárad. “My motivation is greater than the forces and obstacles I will meet in the future,” he concluded.

Congratulations!

Read also:

  • 10 unusual world records Hungarians set – Read more HERE
  • Hungarians break Guinness record with kilometres-long sausage – PHOTOS, VIDEO and details in THIS article

Ethnic Hungarian RMDSZ secures seats in EP, Hungarian mayors re-elected in several Romanian cities

rmdsz

Romania’s ethnic Hungarian party RMDSZ reached the 5 percent European parliamentary threshold, while several Romanian cities, such as Târgu Mures (Marosvásárhely), elected a Hungarian mayor.

RMDSZ can keep two seats in the EP

According to the RMDSZ’s own calculations, the party has reached the 5% threshold, so it can keep its two seats in the EP, Botond Csoma, spokesman of the RMDSZ, told Transtelex. The RMDSZ politicians had already calculated on Sunday that they had collected the half a million votes needed to qualify, but it was not certain at the time that they would exceed the 5 percent threshold.

Commenting on the events, Sándor Csoma told the portal, “[w]e have not had such a result in 20 years.” According to Hunor Kelemen, president of the RMDSZ, based on 99% of the votes cast for the EP lists, the party received 566,000 votes, which is their best result in any election since 2004.

Hungarian government ally Romania rmdsz
Photo: FB/RMDSZ

Viktor Orbán also congratulated the RMDSZ party for reaching the 5 percent European parliamentary threshold in his speech in reaction to the results on Monday.

Hungarian mayors re-elected in several Romanian cities

Index reports that according to a parallel vote count conducted by his campaign staff, the independent candidate Zoltán Soós won the mayoral election in Târgu Mures. He took the lead with a significant margin of more than 22,000 votes, while his opponent Dorin Florea, a former Romanian mayor of the city collected 16,000 votes. The figures were recorded at the incomplete processing stage when the votes were counted in 77 of the 85 polling stations.

The turnout figures published by the Romanian Central Election Office showed, that 62,637 people voted in the local and EP elections in Târgu Mures, one of the most important cities for Hungarians in Transylvania, on Sunday, representing 52.30 percent of the electorate, MTI reported on Monday morning.

palace of culture
Palace of Culture (Kultúrpalota) in Târgu Mureș (Marosvásárhely), Transylvania, Romania. Source: Wikimedia Commons/Derzsi Elekes Andor

Soós was not the only one who was able to secure his position again, as in Satu Mare (Szatmárnémeti), Gábor Kereskényi won his third mandate by a large margin too, according to the partial results. 96 060 voters, 44.87 percent of those eligible to vote cast their ballot in Satu Mare County. Kereskényi, who is running for the RMDSZ, announced his victory on his Facebook page on Monday morning after it emerged that he was leading by 65 percent in 18 of the 74 polling stations.

The RMDSZ announced that they also managed to retain the mayor’s seat in the Romanian-majority Mures County town of Reghin (Szászrégen), where Mayor Endre Márk was re-elected. According to the Alliance, the RMDSZ also won the leadership of Odorheiu Secuiesc (Székelyudvarhely), where its candidate István Szakács-Paál won over the local Székelyudvarhelyért Party mayor Árpád Gálfi, who was set to run for re-election.

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Day of National Cohesion – Culture Minister: Creating value right response to Trianon

Magyar Zászló Magyarország Hungarian Flag Hungary

It is by creating value and organising themselves that Hungarian communities can give the best response to Trianon, with a culturally strong, economically confident and prosperous Hungarian nation in every corner of the Carpathian Basin, János Csák, the minister for culture and innovation, said on Monday at a graduation ceremony in Targu Secuiesc (Kézdivásárhely), celebrating Hungary’s Day of National Cohesion.

Csák noted that the Hungarian government was wedded to the policy of creating a work-based society, and he said Szeklerland had proven itself capable of fostering a successful economy that has attracted foreign investments over the last 14 years, and for this to happen, he added, places were needed “where people want to come and study”.

The minister thanked the region’s political and ecclesiastical leaders for their cooperation, and he noted the manifold increase in the number of students studying at the local vocational school.

He referred to “world-class Hungarian dual training” as “vital knowledge platform in Szeklerland, noting that the Hungarian vocational training system ranks second among Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries.

Meanwhile, Csák called Hungarians survivors of history, not its victims, but Hungarian survival in the future required “knowledge and self-organisation”.

“We have been here for 1,100 years, even longer … and we want to be here for another thousand years. For this to happen we must create value…” he added.

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Hundreds of thousands of Hungarians celebrated Pentecost in Csíksomlyó in 2024 – PHOTOS

Csíksomlyó pilgrimage

Hundreds of thousands of Hungarians gathered in the mountain range of Csíksomlyó in Transylvania’s Szeklerland, Central Romania. Apart from being a religious pilgrimage, Csíksomlyó means much more for the Hungarians: a place where all Hungarians can meet once every year to celebrate the religious holiday.

Pentecost commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles of Jesus, but it means much more for many Hungarians. Hundreds of thousands of people go on a pilgrimage on this holiday to Csíksomlyó, one of the sacred places of the Carpathian Basin. Religious participants can get full absolution at the pilgrimage, but many non-Catholics also take part.

Csíksomlyó pilgrimage
Photo: MTI

Csíksomlyó became a pilgrimage site in the 15th century, and the most important creation of the Pilgrimage Church was the statue of the Virgin Mary made between 1510 and 1515.

In 2024, László Felföldi, the bishop of Pécs, celebrated the Holy Mass, talking about the importance of making peace in ourselves and the world. He said there are “physical, spiritual” wars. He highlighted that we need a renewal and strengthening of faith and love.

Csíksomlyó pilgrimage
Photo: MTI

The pilgrims will start to travel home this afternoon.

Here is our photo report of this year’s pilgrimage and celebration in Csíksomlyó:

Csíksomlyó pilgrimage
Pilgrims’ train to Csíksomlyó from Budapest. The Csíksomlyó Expressz and the Székely Gyors brings thousands there every year. Photo: MTI

Many participants arrive on horseback. Below, you may check out some photos of the participants of the 7th Márton Áron Equestrian Pilgrimage:

And on foot, behind crosses:

Large crowds listened to the mass of the bishop of Pécs in Csíksomlyó this year despite the bad, rainy weather:

Read also:

  • Why do hundreds of thousands of Hungarians go to Csíksomlyó on Pentecost? – Read more HERE
  • Shops are closed today and tomorrow in Hungary! Here are the exceptions – Details in THIS article

The Hungarian tradition of sprinkling on Easter Monday – UPDATED

Sprinkling in Hungary

Hungary has a couple of interesting traditions that foreigners (or even younger Hungarians) might find weird. One of these is sprinkling on Easter Monday.

Even though Easter is a Christian holiday, Easter Monday traditions, including sprinkling, have no significance in the Christian church. What does sprinkling look like? – you might ask.

In the old days, girls were taken to a well or trough in the countryside and doused with buckets, which had fertility charms and also referred to the purifying properties of water.

Indeed, since this is an age-old tradition, many Hungarians do not keep it. As for those who do, the implementation has changed quite a bit. Men who still prefer to keep this convention sprinkle some perfume or cologne on girls and women instead of dousing them with buckets full of cold water (for which many of them are grateful).

In turn, men usually receive painted eggs and some hearty treats (sometimes some coins) from girls and women.

Check out some photos below:

New photos:

Sprinkling in Szeklerland

Watch a video below of a (lot more peaceful and comfortable) Easter Monday sprinkling in Szeklerland, Transylvania, Romania:

In many countries, Easter egg decorating has become an established tradition, and Hungary is at the forefront of this too. Read our guide on how to master the art of traditional Hungarian Easter egg painting HERE!

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Amazing news: Special saltwater spa opens in Transylvania with new look

saltwater In Praid (Parajd), the centre of the Salt Region in Transylvania, an indoor spa was inaugurated in 2015.

In Praid (Parajd), the centre of the Salt Region in Transylvania, an indoor spa was inaugurated in 2015. After more than six months of closure, the Praid Wellness Center reopens this week. The year-round facility offers an extensive array of services to guests.

Special saltwater spa in Transylvania

The newly opening Wellness Center offers a saltwater pool, a freshwater pool, a children’s pool, two jacuzzis and a sauna area for guests, Termál Online reports. The main attraction of the spa, which is owned by the municipality of Praid, is its special saltwater. It is mainly used to treat musculoskeletal and articular problems, dermatological, gynaecological and respiratory diseases.

Although it is a young facility, a major renovation was needed. Thus, the spa, which welcomes 120-140,000 guests a year, closed in mid-September last year. It was estimated at the time that the works would take two to three months, meaning that even in the worst-case scenario they could reopen for the end-of-year holidays.

Renovating the Praid Wellness Center

However, unexpected defects were found during the works, so this deadline could not be met. There were also serious structural problems, with some columns requiring structural reinforcement. According to Termál Online, this was probably due to the fact that the saltwater had eroded many of the building elements over the years.

Promised to reopen in February at the beginning of the year, it was once again delayed, this time by a month.

Praid Wellness Center
Praid Wellness Center. Source: wellnesspraid.ro

The Wellness Center in Praid is opening again on Saturday, 23 March.

“Indoor pools in spacious enclosed areas are open all year round for those who prefer a healthy lifestyle and those who want to recover,” the Wellness Center’s official website reads.

Thermal water with high salt and mineral content

The spa’s greatest treasure is its thermal water, with a high salt and mineral content, which comes from a depth of 1,000 metres and is stored in a 10×20-metre pool. The beneficial effects of the saltwater can be experienced by those suffering from musculoskeletal and joint problems, but it is also recommended for skin diseases, gynaecological problems and respiratory diseases, the operator writes.

In accordance with today’s needs, in addition to the spa pool, you can find additional services in a spacious area of almost 1000 sqm:

  • 10x20m freshwater swimming pool
  • 3x8m, 60cm deep warm freshwater children’s pool
  • 2 jacuzzis
  • 2 steam baths
  • 1 infrared sauna
  • 2 Finnish saunas
  • Cold splash bath
  • Play area
  • Summer terrace
  • Fitness room
  • Bathtub

The recommended bathing time is 20-30 minutes, which can be repeated 2-3 times with at least 20-minute breaks.

A full-price day ticket costs RON 120 (EUR 24), while a discounted day ticket costs RON 90 (EUR 18).

Opening hours:

  • Weekdays: 12:00–21:00
  • Weekends: 10:00–21:00
  • During school holidays and public holidays: 10:00–21:00
  • Special occasional opening hours for night bathing: 22:00–00:00

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FM Szijjártó: Strong ethnic Hungarian RMDSZ party to boost Romania-Hungary ties

szijjártó hunor kelemen rmdsz

The stronger the ethnic Hungarian RMDSZ party becomes in Romania, the easier it will be to lean on it in developing Hungarian-Romanian ties, the foreign minister said on Friday in Sfantu Gheorghe (Sepsiszentgyörgy), in Romania.

According to a ministry statement, at a joint press conference held with RMDSZ head Hunor Kelemen, Péter Szijjártó said Hungary had strategic and economic interests in strong ties with Romania. Bilateral trade hit a new record last year, making Romania Hungary’s third largest export market, he said. “We have more than doubled our trade volume as well as exports to Romania in the past decade,” Szijjártó said.

Hungary also has a vested interest in Romania’s integration into the Schengen Area as soon as possible, and will use its EU presidency starting on 1 July to do everything it can to speed up the procedure, he said.

“That is in our economic interest, but contact between Hungarians in the homeland and in Romania’s Transylvania region and Szekler Land will also become much easier.”

Post by Hunor Kelemen, RMDSZ head

Thanks to the lobbying of RMDSZ, the cooperation of Hungary’s government and Wizz Air, and Romania’s partial Schengen membership which allows easy travel by plane, Brasov will have a direct flight to Budapest from June, he said.

Noting that Romania will see four elections in 2024, Szijjártó said Hungary would “naturally” not try to influence the ballots, “but we maintain the right to root for candidates”. “We will root for RMDSZ because the stronger RMDSZ is in Romanian political life, the stronger we can lean on it to improve and strengthen the ties between Hungary and Romania even further.”

“I respectfully ask Hungarians in Szekler Land, Transylvania and the whole of Romania to cast their ballots at all of the elections in as large numbers as possible.”

He said he hoped the election campaigns would be free from incitement against the ethnic communities, especially Hungarians. “We Hungarians base our foreign policy on mutual respect, and hope that will be mutual.”

Asked about President Klaus Iohannis’ candidacy for the post of NATO’s Secretary-General, Szijjártó said the results of the election were impossible to foresee. Hungary will “definitely not support” the candidacy of outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who called for Hungary “to be brought to its knees”, the foreign minister said.

“At the same time, we are happy there is a central European candidate. NATO has never before had a central European Secretary-General,” Szijjártó said.

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Hungarian government: ‘we stand by Szekler freedom’

Hungarian government 'we stand by Szekler freedom'

The Szeklers, like other Hungarian communities in the Carpathian Basin, can count on the support of the Hungarian government, the state secretary for Hungarian communities abroad said on Sunday.

Marking the Day of Szekler Freedom, Árpád János Potápi said Hungarians today commemorated the Szekler martyrs who were executed in Targu Mures on March 10, 1854.

“This day is a tribute to our Szekler compatriots fighting for national self-determination,” Potápi said.

He said the Szeklers’ demand for self-determination “is not an unprecedented desire” in the European Union, citing the examples of the Austrians in South Tyrol and the Swedish-speaking residents of the Åland Islands in Finland.

If an ethnic community can freely practice its identity, culture and traditions, as well as operate its own institutions, not only does the given community benefit but so does the successor state too, Potápi said.

He said territorial autonomy entailed protection, self-organisation and local legislation, which was “good for everyone” and “not directed against anyone”.

Potápi urged as many people as possible to participate in the events commemorating the Day of Szekler Freedom, emphasising that this was a common cause of all Hungarians.

Read also:

  • Hungary’s iconic spa renewed – PHOTOS and more HERE
  • Culture Palace of Marosvásárhely became sublime – Details in THIS article

PHOTOS: Culture Palace of Marosvásárhely became sublime

Culture Palace of Marosvásárhely became sublime

Marosvásárhely (Târgu Mureș) is one of the cultural and educational centres of the Hungarian community living in Transylvania, Romania. Now, the astonishing Culture Palace of the city has been beautifully renewed. Check out the details and some photos in our article below.

According to turizmus.com, the iconic Culture Palace of Marosvásárhely was inaugurated this Thursday. The restoration and renovation work lasted four years, and thanks to that, one of the most scenic Transylvanian monuments can shine in its original glory.

Culture Palace of Marosvásárhely became sublime
Photo: MTI

The Art Nouveau-style palace in the city’s main square is iconic in Marosvásárhely. Ferenc Péter, the President of the Assembly of Maros County, said that the project required extreme caution not to harm the building in any way.

Building the palace was the dream of Marosvásárhely’s Mayor György Bernádi, who led the city between 1902–1912 and 1926–1929. Mr Péter said their task was to preserve it and renew it, meeting the requirements of this age. Interestingly, the work was financed by the county assembly and the European Union. The EU support was EUR 1.2 million from the project’s EUR 2.2 million cost.

The palace is an outstanding masterpiece of the Central European Art Nouveau

He said they should fill the palace with heartwarming performances. He also expressed hope that the building would be in its place even one hundred years later.

Bulcsú Ötvös Koppány, the director of the Maros County Museum, said that the palace has been serving cultural purposes for 111 years. Now, it shines in its former glory again.

Culture Palace of Marosvásárhely became sublime
Photo: MTI

Art historians regard the palace as one of the outstanding masterpieces of the Central European Art Nouveau. Even Viennese papers praised its beauty then.

The building hosts a museum, a library and a Philharmonic Orchestra.

Culture Palace of Marosvásárhely became sublime
A glass window of Ferenc Liszt in the palace. Photo: MTI

The subcontractor renewed the main facades of the building with its roofs. They replaced the broken tiles with products from the Zsolnay Porcelain in Pécs, the original supplier. In the mirror room, they renewed the interior and mended the organ. The glass windows depict Szekler sagas and legends.

Read also:

  • Check out the 8 most beautiful castles near Budapest – Read more and check out the photos HERE
  • Hungarian Renaissance palace beautifully restored and open to visitors – Details and photos in THIS article

Here are some more photos:

Culture Palace of Marosvásárhely became sublime
Photo: MTI

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

Dormitory wall collapsed

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

Autonomy Szeklerland

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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British PM receives drawing by Szekler girl for Christmas

rishi sunak

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and other politicians in the British Parliament received a postcard made from the drawing of the daughter of a Szekler couple living in England, as a Christmas greeting card, Székelyhon reported.

Szekler girl’s drawing on postcards in British Parliament

According to Székelyhon, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and other politicians received a postcard made by the daughter of a Szekler couple living in England, as a Christmas card in the British Parliament. The seven-year-old girl won first prize in a drawing competition organised by Lucy Frazer, Member of the British Parliament, to find the best drawing to decorate her Christmas card this year.

As the news portal writes, Csaba Babos from Kézdivásárhely and Enikő Babos from Csíkszereda have been living in England for thirteen years. Their daughter and son were born in England. According to the mother, they do their best to teach them the Hungarian language, to make them know that they are Hungarians and, above all, that they are Szeklers.

The Christmas Card Competition by Lucy Frazer

For the ninth year running, Lucy Frazer, MP for Cambridgeshire South East and a member of the Conservative Party, has launched the Christmas Card Competition in the county, inviting designs from children aged 4-11. The winner of this year’s drawing competition is Hanga Babos.

We’re so proud of her, and the school, and the headmistress of the school, are so proud of her, it’s indescribable,

the mother said, adding that they were present when Lucy Frazer went to the school to award Hanga. She added that they were also proud that the postcard from Lucy Frazer to the British Prime Minister and many other politicians in Parliament was drawn by their daughter.

An all-around talented little girl

“Hanga loves to draw, not a day goes by that she doesn’t draw. She first outlined the winning drawing with pencil, then used watercolour, glued the bicycle on separately, and finally decorated the whole creation with glitter powder,” Enikő Babos explained. This is not the first time their daughter has shown her talent: she already knew the Szekler anthem at the age of two, and a short video of her singing it had circulated the web.

The little girl also loves snow. According to her mother, it might be because it is “in her blood”, as she herself also loves snow: her best experiences as a child were sledging and hiking on the Harghita Mountains. As she said, they are thinking of returning home.

You can check out the drawing and Rishi Sunak holding the postcard HERE!

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Hungarian government sends emergency aid to school in Szeklerland

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.

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

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

Dormitory wall collapsed

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