Regional flags in Romania: double standards against minority symbols

Banning the Szekler flag – In 2014, the situation of the Szekler flag worsened considerably. While in the previous year the Prefect of Covasna county demanded the Szekler flag to be taken down from local institutions, in 2014 court decisions rendered the Szekler flag illegal and ordered the mayors and the president of Covasna County Council to them them down. This in spite of the fact that in 2013, even the Human Rights Report of Romania, made by the Embassy of The United Stated in Romania mentioned the problematics of the Szekler flag in the section destined to the breach of minority rights.

The courts justified the decisions saying that the flag is illegal, because Szeklerland is not a territorial administrative unit, and the Constitution of Romania does not recognize regions. However, in other regions, for example in Moldova, the regional flag of Moldova can be displayed without any problem, what is more, the Prime Minister of Romania, Victor Ponta was photographed at a public event holding the regional flag of Moldova.

These circumstances suggest that the Romanian state has a double standard regarding regional symbols, while the Moldovan flag can be displayed without being ordered to be taken down, the same principle does not apply to the Szekler flag that has to be taken down.