The resurrection of Transleithania

The Szekler National Council (CNS), which represents Transylvania's Hungarian minority, has voted to adopt an anthem, a flag and coat of arms for "the future autonomous territory of Székely Land," reportsZiua. On the occasion of general meeting organized in Odorheiu Secuiesc, 400 local representatives of the Hungariain Civic Party approved a series of measures on the boundaries "of disputed territory" in the counties of Harghita, Covasna and Mures. The report in Ziua points out that the CNS initiative, which has received support from Hungary's main conservative party FIDESZ, is designed to pave the way for the establishment of a single territorial entity. According to the daily, "the move has been unanimously condemned by Romanian politicians, who fear it may result in "the ethnic cleansing of Romanians." Nationalist party România Mare (Greater Romania) has demanded that the demand for an autonomous Transleithania (a name that was given to the three counties at the time of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1867) be the subject of a national referendum on 22 November, which is also the date set for Romanian presidential elections.