Among Transylvanian Hungarians, the fact that the census questionnaire released for public discussion had six subcategories for Romanian nationality, five for German nationality, and 13 for Romani nationality, while there were no subcategories for Hungarian nationality, caused a lively debate among Transylvanian Hungarians.
In Romania, more than a month and a half before the start of the census, the debate about Székely identity does not subside.
Among Transylvanian Hungarians, the fact that the census questionnaire released for public discussion had six subcategories for Romanian nationality, five for German nationality, and 13 for Romani nationality, while there were no subcategories for Hungarian nationality, caused a lively debate among Transylvanian Hungarians.
In its statement on Monday, the Hungarian Civil Party (MPP) stated that it considers it unacceptable that in the 21st century, one of the member states of the European Union does not allow the nationalities living in its territory to freely assume their identity without foreseeable negative consequences.
"We consider it important that all native Hungarian speakers living in Romania should be able to freely choose their Székely, Csangó or other identities, as these are both historically and culturally a precisely definable part of Hungarian identity. We believe that the fear of all those who fear that if Székely and Csángó, or even more regional identities, can be chosen in addition to the main Hungarian group, this will later be used to divide Transylvanian Hungarians and thus deprive them of their linguistic and cultural rights," said Székely. MPP also addresses concerns about assuming an identity.
The party suggested that the faction of the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (RMDSZ), in addition to reforming the census questionnaire, should also propose the amendment of the Public Administration Code as soon as possible in order to eliminate the possibility that the language rights of the community could be violated by assuming regional identities.
Previously, RMDSZ president Kelemen Hunor announced that he would initiate the inclusion of Székely identity on the questionnaire, so that it would appear as a subcategory of Hungarian nationality. The politician previously urged Transylvanian Hungarians to live their regional identity in other areas of life, and to declare themselves Hungarian in the census.
Izsák Balázs, the president of the Székely National Council (SZNT), also urged the acceptance of the Hungarian identity in his statement last week. "The people of Székely have always been aware that (.) they are the most Hungarian tribe of Hungarians. We, the people of Székely, will accordingly declare ourselves Hungarian," said the president of the SZNT in his resolution.
However, Izsák Balázs received sharp attacks on social media because of his position. A group of Székelyföld opinion makers - several of whom also hold positions in the SZNT - stated in a joint statement: "Székely as an ethnic group has a common origin with Hungarians, but is not the same as the Hungarian people". They demanded that Székely should be listed on the questionnaire as a subcategory of Hungarian ethnicity.
The view is also spreading on social media that Székely people can only stand up for the territorial autonomy of Székelyföld based on the right of self-determination of peoples if they declare themselves as Székely in the census. The author of an open letter addressed to Balázs Izsák stated: "There is only one true path in Székelyföld, and that is the path of self-determination! And only a statistically demonstrable people are entitled to self-determination, and we can also demand autonomy based on the right of peoples to self-determination!"
MTI
Photo: Robert Ghement / EPA / MTI
