UDMR leader accuses rivals of "vulgar manipulation" in ex-minister's resignation
UDMR leader Hunor Kelemen denounces "vulgar manipulation" in scandal forcing ex-Culture Minister Demeter András to resign
The president of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR), Hunor Kelemen, has accused political opponents of orchestrating a "vulgar manipulation" to oust former Culture Minister Demeter András, whose resignation followed the leak of a controversial audio recording. Kelemen confirmed on Tuesday that he personally demanded András’s departure—not over the content of the recording, but because the minister’s language in it risked damaging the party’s reputation. The UDMR leader emphasized András’s "important role" in preventing Russian control of Radio Chișinău, a Moldovan broadcaster at risk of being acquired through intermediaries .
The scandal erupted during Monday’s UNITER Awards gala, where András—who had already resigned—delivered an emotional apology, stating, "Because I am Hungarian, I present my formal apologies." The event, broadcast by Romanian Television (TVR), underscored the political fallout from the recording, which remains undisclosed in its entirety .
Kelemen’s defense of András contrasts with his broader criticism of Romania’s political instability. In a separate statement, he warned that a technocratic government—currently under discussion as a potential solution to the country’s leadership vacuum—would collapse by October, benefiting the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR). "Without a political majority and direct accountability, such a government would quickly lose parliamentary support," he said, drawing parallels to past technocratic experiments that empowered the Social Democratic Party (PSD) .
The scandal unfolds against a backdrop of prolonged government negotiations. President Klaus Iohannis’s office has reportedly considered three technocratic candidates for prime minister, including presidential advisor Eugen Tomac, though opposition from both PSD and the National Liberal Party (PNL) has stalled progress. UDMR, a junior coalition partner in the previous government, has not been invited to current talks, despite its historical role in stabilizing minority cabinets.
András, a UDMR member, served as Culture Minister until his resignation on May 25, 2026. His departure leaves the party navigating a delicate balance: defending its record while distancing itself from the controversy to avoid alienating ethnic Hungarian voters ahead of potential snap elections. The scandal also revives tensions over minority representation in Romanian politics, particularly amid rising nationalist rhetoric from AUR.
UDMR leader accuses rivals of "vulgar manipulation" in ex-minister's resignation
