Romanian President Traian Basescu has asked the Romanian Government and Parliament to ban Hungarian "extremist" party Jobbik and its members from the country.

“Their behavior in Targu Mures  justifies such a measure against Jobbik,” said the Romanian President.

Thousands of people participated Monday (March 10) at the events organized in Targu Mures to commemorate the Szeklers (Hungarians living mostly in the Szekler Land) killed in 1854.

During the events, people also asked autonomy for the ethnic Hungarians living in Romania.

Among the participants, there was also Gabor Vona, the leader of the Hungarian nationalist political party Jobbik, according to local Mediafax. Also, there were representatives of the 64 Counties movement and the Hungarian Guard (an organization banned in Hungary).

The rally turned violent when extremists started to push the gendarmes and throw firecrackers, as reported by the local media.

Known as the Szeklers, the ethnic minority predominately live in the region of Transylvania, especially an eastern part they call Szekler Land (Tinutul Secuiesc). In 2002 the estimated ethnic composition of Szekler Land consisted of Hungarians (61 percent), Romanians (33 percent), Germans (3 percent) and Roma (3 percent).

Jobbik, the Movement for a Better Hungary, is a Hungarian radical nationalist political party whose fundamental aim is the protection of Hungarian values and interests.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(photo source: Wikipedia)