The Hungarian candidates of Sunday’s municipal elections in Romania, where voters decided who will lead the more than 3,100 settlements and 41 counties, performed exceptionally well. In Marosvásárhely (Târgu Mureş), independent candidate Zoltán Soós, backed by ethnic Hungarian parties RMDSZ and EMSZ, secured a historic victory. Csíkszereda (Miercurea Ciuc), Szatmárnémeti (Satu Mare) and Szászrégen (Rhegin) among many others will be also headed by Hungarian mayors. Furthermore, four counties in Transylvania elected Hungarian council presidents.
Independent candidate Zoltán Soós won the local election in Marosvásárhely (Târgu Mureş) which means, after 20 years, the “capital of Szeklerland” will have a Hungarian leader once more. Soós, supported by both ethnic Hungarian parties in Romania: the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania, (RMDSZ) and the Hungarian Association of Transylvania (EMSZ), was running for the post as the only Hungarian candidate.
The local election in Szatmárnémeti brought a similar result, as RMDSZ’s candidate, incumbent mayor Gábor Kereskényi, garnered the most votes.
Another RMDSZ candidate, Dezső Márk, won the mayoral election in Szászrég as well. What makes his victory special is that only 27% of the town’s population is Hungarian, which means he was able to gather wide-ranging support behind him.
Voters in Nagykároly (Carei), Szepsiszentgyörgy (Sfântu Gheorghe), Kézdivásárhely (Târgu Secuiesc), Gyergyószentmiklós (Gheorgheni) have also elected Hungarian mayors supported by RMDSZ.
Székelykeresztúr (Cristuru Secuiesc) and Székelyudvarhely (Odorheiu Secuiesc) have elected Hungarian leaders as well, altough not the candidates of RMDSZ.
Additionally, four counties in Transylvania, including Szatmárnémeti (Județul Satu Mare), Maros (Mureș), Harghita and Kovászna (Covasna) will be headed by RMDSZ candidates.
Featured photo by Gábor Kiss/MTI
