On Monday, an extremist Romanian organization classified Árpád Antal, the mayor of Sepsiszentgyörgy, last week's stipulations regarding the Eminescu statue as blackmail and discrimination.
The Civil Forum of the Romanians of Kovászna, Hargita and Maros Counties (FCRCHM) wrote in a statement published by the Agerpres news agency: it noted with regret that Mayor Árpád Antal's attitude towards the Romanian community in Sepsiszentgyörgy is still "discriminatory and offensive".
The extremist Romanian organization described as blackmail the mayor's statement last week, according to which he supports the erection of the bust of the greatest Romanian poet, Mihai Eminescu, in the seat of Covaszna county only if the civil organization withdraws the lawsuits against the mayor's office. The announcement characterizes the head of the RMDSZ as a follower of the Hungarian nationalist-separatist discourse and as a participant in such events, even though, according to them, he should show a balanced attitude towards all members of the community, regardless of nationality.
In their statement, the Romanian civilians call the procedure of the presiding judge a serious form of blackmail, who, according to them, seeks to influence the justice system, and would deprive them of their constitutional right to appeal to the justice system. In their announcement, they emphasize that they will not give up on having a statue of Eminescu in the city of Székelyföld, where they can remember him in a dignified way. The Romanian umbrella organization also reminds in its statement that it unites more than 45 associations and foundations from the counties of Kovászna, Hargita and Maros, and is the most important Romanian civil forum in Székelyföld, even if the local government leaders do not accept it as a legitimate representative of the Romanian community.
The civil forum of Romanians requested the erection of the Eminescu statue in Sepsiszentgyörgy, citing the fact that the municipality is erecting a statue of Sándor Petőfi in the city in partnership with the Hármas Alapítvány. Six submissions were received for the tender for the creation of the full-length Petőfi statue, the professional jury will choose from the sculpture designs until November 30, the statue inauguration is planned for July 29, 2023. Citing equal treatment and fairness, the civic forum requested that the city provide a worthy place for an Eminescu statue in a mirror procedure. At the same time, he agreed to contribute to the costs of the statue's installation in the same proportion as the Hármas Alapítvány to the Petőfi statue, and also to handle the bidding process himself.
According to the representatives of the forum, the simultaneous unveiling of the two statues would convey the message of harmony between ethnicities. Mayor Árpád Antal announced last Thursday: he will only sit down with the organizations that initiated the statue installation if they withdraw their lawsuits that harm the interests of the city. The municipality of Sepsiszentgyörgy received the state-owned city sports center by government decision, which it renovated, but the NGO challenged the decision in court, as it also appealed the government decision approving the city flag. Both lawsuits are pending.
Source: Kronikaonline.ro
Picture: László Beliczay
