In Romania’s presidential runoff, independent candidate Nicușor Dan won with 53.60% of the vote, defeating nationalist George Simion, largely due to strong support from Transylvanian Hungarians.Continue reading
The Romanian government approved the coats of arms and flags of two more Hungarian-populated towns, Salonta (Nagyszalonta) and Sărățeni (Sóvárad), at its meeting on Thursday, announced Development Minister Attila Cseke.
The coat of arms of Nagyszalonta (western Romania, near the Hungarian boarder) in Bihar County is based on the coat of arms of the Bocskai family and is shield-shaped, divided vertically into two parts. One half of the coat of arms features a golden lion on a white field, while the other half features a black eagle facing it on a red field.
In 1606, István Bocskai (a 17th-century Hungarian noble and freedom fighter), whose original coat of arms featured a golden lion, defeated the army of the Holy Roman Empire, whose coat of arms depicted a black eagle, with the help of three hundred hajduks. The hajduks settled in the area and founded the castle of Nagyszalonta, whose restored tower now houses the Arany János Museum,”
the announcement explained.
The flag of Sóvárad in Maros County shows the coat of arms of the settlement on a blue field. The coat of arms is divided horizontally: in the upper half, a green field features a golden bear’s head and salt flowers, which refer to the name of the settlement, while the lower half, a silver field, features a blue wooden box with Szekler symbols—a golden sun and black pine trees.
The adoption of the symbols was initiated by the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (RMDSZ). The Romanian government will decide on the official status of the coats of arms and flags of municipalities and counties by government decree, following a proposal from the Ministry of Development and Public Administration.
Via MTI; Featured photo: Wikipedia