The UNITER Awards Gala, broadcast on Monday evening by Romanian Television, was marked by a moment with a strong emotional and political charge, after the resignation of the Minister of Culture, Demeter Andras Istvan, following the appearance of an audio recording in which he used insulting expressions against the state and the national interest.
Hungarian actor Tibor Pálffy, awarded for Best Supporting Actor, began his speech on the gala stage with a message that drew applause from the audience.
“Because I am Hungarian, on behalf of my colleagues in minority theaters and on behalf of people with common sense, I apologize profusely”, said the actor.
The statement came just a few hours after the Minister of Culture announced his resignation, amid the scandal caused by an audio recording in which he allegedly used insulting language against the state and the national interest.
After the tense moment, Tibor Pálffy continued his speech on an emotional note, talking about his artistic journey that began 36 years ago at the Figura Studio Theater in Gheorgheni and about his connection with the theater in Sfântu Gheorghe.
The actor won the award for the role of Jean in the show “Rhinoceros”, directed by László Bocsárdi, production by the Theater “Figure Studio” from Gheorgheni and the “Tamási Áron” Theater from Sfântu Gheorghe.
Meanwhile, the political scandal continued on Tuesday. UDMR leader Kelemen Hunor said that the former minister “took responsibility” by resignation, but also suggested the existence of one “ordinary manipulations” around the case.
However, Kelemen Hunor himself had demanded the resignation of Demeter Andras Istvan the day before, stating that the statements in the recording are “unacceptable” and that the Hungarian identity “cannot be invoked to justify objectionable claims”.
For his part, the spokesperson of UDMR, Csoma Botond, said that the party delimits itself from vulgar language and considers the minister’s resignation “a natural and responsible gesture”.
Demeter Andras Istvan claimed that he did not remember using those expressions and announced that he would request verification of the authenticity of the recording. He specified, however, that he does not exclude the possibility that such a conversation existed, but “never in those terms”.
