Székely autonomy initiatives

The Székely Land is a region of central Romania. According to official data from the Romania's 2002 census, 668,471 persons in Mureş, Harghita and Covasna counties consider themselves Hungarian (the Székely speak Hungarian and are concentrated in these three counties). The most important political organisation of ethnic Hungarians in Romania is the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania, which undertakes to represent all Hungarians in Romania (i.e. not only those living in the Székely Land). This party assumes a somewhat cautious position and focuses on lobbying for an act on cultural autonomy.

Another Székely Land based organization, the "Szekler National Council" held a relatively large (4,000 [ ro icon Cotidianul, " [http://cotidianul.ro/index.php?id=4423&art=10502&cHash=50adc45025 Secuii au cerut autonomie in linişte] (The Székelys Peacefully Demanded Autonomy)", March 16, 2006 ] to 10,000 [ ro icon Saptamana Financiara, " [http://www.sfin.ro/articol_4493/udmr_si_restul_lumii.html UDMR şi restul lumii] (UDMR and the Rest of the World)", March 27, 2006 ] people took part), peaceful demonstration in Odorheiu Secuiesc on March 15 2006, in favor of autonomy. [ [http://www.hunsor.se/avitus/szekelymanifest060316.htm Manifesto of the 2006 Székely Assembly] ] . Five days before this, President Traian Băsescu met with Jenő Szász (the mayor of Odorheiu Secuiesc and also president of the Hungarian Civic Union), who assured the president of the peaceful character of the March 15 ceremonies and also briefly presented the UCM's vision on autonomy [ ro icon Gandul," [http://www.gandul.info/actual/primarul-szasz-l-asigurat-presedintele-basescu-quot-totul-ok-quo.html?3927;257354 Primarul Szász l-a asigurat pe preşedintele Băsescu că "totul va fi OK", pe 15 martie, la Odorhei] (Mayor Szasz Assures President Băsescu That "Everything Will Be OK", on March 15, in Odorhei)", March 11, 2006 ] . On March 16 Băsescu visited the town [ hu icon [http://www.mtv.hu/magazin/cikk.php?id=102386 Article about the assembly] ] and met with local and county officials. Băsescu declared that the Romanian administrative system should be more decentralized, but only in a symmetrical way, with no more autonomy given to the Székely Land than to any other region in Romania. [ ro icon Adevărul, " [http://www.adevarul.ro/index.php?section=articole&screen=index&id=178285&search=autonomie Veţi avea autonomie cât are şi Craiova!] (You Will Have as Much Autonomy as Craiova!)", March 17, 2006]

On February 12, 2007, Hungarian President László Sólyom visited Romania and met Băsescu. The discussions included the controversial topics of minority rights and autonomy. Băsescu has pointed out that the situation of the Székely in Romania is in full compliance with the standards of the European Union. He also mentioned that a referendum for territorial autonomy would be illegal and characterized the Székely initiative not as a test of the public opinion, but as a test of Romanian laws. ro icon [http://www.presidency.ro/?_RID=det&tb=date&id=8471&_PRID= Romanian presidency's press release, 12 February 2007] ] Romania's Interior Ministry has said that organizing an informal poll is actually not illegal. [ International Herald Tribune " [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/02/12/europe/EU-GEN-Romania-Hungary-Ethnic-Minority.php Hungarian president calls for increased autonomy for ethnic Hungarians in Romania] ", February 12, 2007]

Territorial autonomy for the Székely Land is supported by the People's Action Party, headed by former president Emil Constantinescu. [ " [http://www.hotnews.ro/articol_8624-Actiunea-Populara-de-acord-cu-autonomia-pe-criterii-etnice.htm Actiunea Populară, de acord cu autonomia pe criterii etnice] (People's Action Agrees with Autonomy Based on Ethnic Criteria)" , November 6, 2004]

Constitutional issues

Article 1 of the Romanian Constitution defines the country as a "sovereign, independent, unitary and indivisible national state." It has often been argued that, as a result of this provision, any ethnic-based autonomy, including that of the Székely Land, would be unconstitutional. It is important to note, however, that the Constitution does not explicitly define "national state" in ethnic terms; neither does it contain provisions against the devolution of power. The United Kingdom, for example, remains a unitary state even though it has asymmetrically devolved power to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

References