“Hungarians in Romania will never have autonomy. They should be proud to be Romanian citizens.”
Traian Basescu, February 3rd, 2009
“The government should make it easier for Moldovan citizens to become Romanians.”
Traian Basescu, April 15, 2009
Just Fancy That!
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Basescu’s discourse toward both the ethnic Hungarians of Romania and the ethnic Romanians of Moldova is just an example of the coarseness that characterises the Romanian nationalism ever since the railway age. One must know a bit of history to appreciate the development and state of this nationalism, which has its roots in Transylvania, and brought over to Bucharest by Transylvanian intellectuals fleeing the suffocating Hungarian assimilation policies of mid 19th century (that is the railway age which I mentioned). Ever since that time the Romanian nationalism has a Transylvania focus, the local Hungarians faring very badly in its discourse. On the other hand, the Republic of Moldova and its precursor Bessarabia, have always been an exotic and remote location for this ideology. This nationalism had not evolved yet into modernity, it still has its 19th century political nuances, with the confusing consequences highlighted in your post with citations from a poorly educated and low intellect person like Basescu (similar with 90% of the rest of this country).
What’s wrong with that? Let’s face it the whole region has been messed up by horse trading between by countries more powerful that Romania, Hungary, Moldova etc. But there’s no use complaining, much better to get on with it. Which means Huns in Romania need to get on with being Romanian citizens and enjoying their lives in Romania. Or leave. And Moldovans likewise. I’m sure Mr Basescu has no objection to Romanian Huns effing off to Hungary and taking Hungarian citizenship