A behind-the-scenes recording, in which the Minister of Culture uses suburban language to address the Romanian state, triggered a major political crisis, prompting the UDMR to demand the resignation of Demeter András István. While the political formation harshly condemns the official’s attitude, Demeter justifies the slip as a simple explanatory metaphor from a classified file, arguing that, in reality, his actions in the past blocked the takeover of Radio Chisinau by the Russian Federation.
UPDATE 16.40 The Minister of Culture, Demeter András István, resigns following the scandal
Interim Minister of Culture, Demeter András István, announced on Monday, through a video message, that he is resigning as minister, in response to the controversy caused by the publication of the audio recording in which he used vulgar language.
“Some statements were attributed to me that I don’t remember making, some serious statements were attributed to me that are contradicted by my acts and deeds, my achievements on the public stage, from 1993 onwards. A behavior that does not characterize me is attributed to me. I don’t remember such a statement on my part. I don’t remember saying those words. I don’t think that I am that person who says that he is not interested in the national interest“, transmits the Minister of Culture, in a video message.
UPDATE 15.30 UDMR asks the Minister of Culture to resign: “Statements incompatible with public responsibility”
The UDMR reacted officially after the appearance in the public space of the audio recording with the Minister of Culture, Demeter András István, in which he uses vulgar language and formulates statements considered offensive to the national interest.
UDMR specifies that it cannot accept behavior that affects public trust in institutions:
“The UDMR delimits both the vulgar language and the content of such statements, which are incompatible with the responsibility of a public office and are likely to affect trust in state institutions and in the values of the public service. For the Union, respect for the public interest, the democratic functioning of the institutions and Romania’s Euro-Atlantic course represent clear and assumed principles“, writes, on Facebook, the deputy Csoma Botond, leader of the UDMR parliamentary group in the Chamber of Deputies.
The formation emphasizes that respect for the public interest, the democratic functioning of institutions and Romania’s Euro-Atlantic orientation are fundamental principles for the Union.
UDMR demands the resignation of Minister Demeter:
“We believe that, in such a context, the minister’s resignation is the natural and responsible gesture. Statements of this type not only affect a person’s image, but project unfair and lasting effects on the Hungarian community and its political representation. Precisely for this reason, it is important that public responsibility is assumed with lucidity and decency.
At the same time, we believe that this situation must be treated with balance and responsibility, without political instrumentalization and without turning an individual controversy into a discourse that stigmatizes an entire ethnic community. Criticism of statements or behavior cannot justify generalizations and collective labeling“.
The original news
During a discussion with employees of the ministry, Demeter recalls an episode from 2012, when he was heard by the General Prosecutor’s Office in a file regarding the purchase of Radio Chisinau by Radio Romania, according to 2mnews.ro- News from Maramureș
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In this context, Demeter András István uses shocking expressions:
„Zic: Doamna procuror, puteți să vă jucați cât vreți, dar dacă eu mă enervez, eu mă duc acum, că încă suntem în consiliul de administrație – toți ceilalți care am votat banii ăștia încă suntem în conducerea radioului -, mergem frumos, îi anunțăm pe ruși, vindem radioul cu 5 milioane (n.red., de euro), dumneavoastră nu mai aveți pretinsul prejudiciu, statul român va câștiga, va fi pe profit. Și îmi bag p**a în interesul național, pentru că eu sunt ungur! Deci dumneavoastră ar trebui să-mi dați o statuie, că am făcut ce voi n-ați fost în stare, și dumneavoastră mă f**ți cu p**a îndoită aicea ”, it is shown in the script published by the cited source.
The context of the discussion
The statements were made during an internal discussion in which Demeter explained how he reacted to the prosecutors in the file regarding the acquisition of Radio Chisinau, an investigation that has since been closed.
Demeter András István claimed that in 2012 he argued that selling the station to Russia would have eliminated the alleged harm alleged by investigators.
Minister Demeter’s reaction
In a telephone conversation with Știri din Maramureș, the minister did not dispute the existence of the recording, stating:
“There was a discussion about the abuses that followed… We (ed., the Board of Directors of Radio Romania) undertook this purchase. Then a file was opened that investigated a possible damage caused to the Romanian state and that’s how it came about the national interest… I have nothing to deny. I told the prosecutor that if the national interest does not matter, because the national interest was not to buy Russia and the station to continue broadcasting in Romanian, then it can be sold to Russia and Romania they get their money back“, he explained.
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“I am Hungarian, a Romanian citizen of Hungarian ethnicity, but (…) I do not regret anything, because I served (…) Romania’s interest”, completed the minister.
His official position, in writing
In the message sent to the editors, Demeter András István lists professional achievements and cultural projects to demonstrate that he has consistently acted in Romania’s interest.
“The idea that the national interest would have been for me (…) a subject of ridicule is contradicted by the facts“, the message says.
At the same time, the minister suggests that the publication of the recording could serve “aother interests than the national ones”.
The recording is authentic, the quoted source insists, and Minister Demeter András István’s statements – both vulgar and those that question the national interest – remain without clear justification.
