Tusványos, László Tőkés, and Autonomy

Yes, when it comes to Tusványos, the current prime minister and László Tőkés are always present. Just as the lamentations about the dwindling Hungarian population in Transylvania are always present. And just as the Romanian state’s fault in this decline is always present, because it refuses to grant autonomy to the Székelys.

László Tőkés continues to call for territorial autonomy for Székely Land. And now, in addition to that, he is also calling for personal autonomy for the Hungarian community in Transylvania.

But these words are slowly beginning to sound like empty slogans. Because they constantly appear in the speeches of certain politicians, yet no one explains what they mean. No one explains what they mean by “autonomy.” No one explains why autonomy is necessary.

What’s more, I detected a form of reverse psychology in László Tőkés’s speech at Tusványos. It doesn’t matter what this much-discussed autonomy actually is; what matters is that if it existed, the number of Hungarians in Transylvania would not be declining.

In other words, instead of admitting that the decline in the Hungarian population is partly the fault of the churches, a Transylvanian bishop blames it on the lack of autonomy. Instead of admitting that the decline in the Hungarian population is partly the fault of Transylvanian politicians, a Transylvanian Hungarian politician blames it on the lack of autonomy.

Without explaining what exactly he means by “autonomy.” Because then the Hungarians of Transylvania might realize that everything this term implies is already enshrined in Romanian law.

And the saddest thing is that the underlying, deliberate intent behind these speeches is to stir up ethnic tensions—to incite Romanians against Hungarians—so that they can then step in as defenders of the Hungarian community in Transylvania—against the very problems they themselves created—in order to win votes.

And I wonder: wouldn’t a new summer university be necessary? A new dialogue? One where Hungarians wouldn’t just be closed off among themselves, mentioning the word “autonomy” under fire from the Romanian press. But rather, sitting down at the table with Romanian politicians, in a format similar to that of Tusványos. And where someone representing the Székely people would explain what, after all, lies behind the word “autonomy” that they so ardently desire.