Culture Minister's Vulgar Language, National Interest Remarks Surface in Leaked Recording

An audio recording from November 2025 has surfaced, capturing Romania's Minister of Culture, Demeter András István of UDMR, using extremely vulgar language and making statements that appear to minimize Romania's national interest. The recording, made inside the Ministry of Culture, reportedly features István discussing a 2012 episode where he was questioned by the General Prosecutor's Office regarding the acquisition of Radio Chișinău by Radio România.

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You can play all you want, Madam Prosecutor, but if I get angry, I'll go now, because we are still on the board of directors – all the others who voted for this money are still in the radio's leadership – we'll nicely go, we'll inform the Russians, we'll sell the radio for 5 million (editor's note: euros), you won't have the alleged prejudice anymore, the Romanian state will win, it will be profitable. And I don't give a f*** about the national interest, because I am Hungarian! So you should give me a statue, because I did what you couldn't, and you're f***ing me with a bent d*** here.

In the recording, István is heard saying, "You can play all you want, Madam Prosecutor, but if I get angry, I'll go now, because we are still on the board of directors – all the others who voted for this money are still in the radio's leadership – we'll nicely go, we'll inform the Russians, we'll sell the radio for 5 million (editor's note: euros), you won't have the alleged prejudice anymore, the Romanian state will win, it will be profitable. And I don't give a f*** about the national interest, because I am Hungarian! So you should give me a statue, because I did what you couldn't, and you're f***ing me with a bent d*** here."

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I don't deny that it exists... it was about the Prosecutor's Office file... I have nothing to deny.

István initially did not deny the recording's authenticity when contacted by Știri din Maramureș, stating, "I don't deny that it exists... it was about the Prosecutor's Office file... I have nothing to deny." He explained that his remarks were made in the context of the Radio Chișinău acquisition and the risk of the station being bought by Russian interests, insisting he ultimately acted in Romania's interest. However, he later suggested in a written message that the recording might have been "edited" or "fabricated," despite his earlier non-denial. In his written statement, István highlighted his professional achievements and cultural projects to demonstrate his commitment to Romania's interests, suggesting the recording's publication might serve "other interests than national ones."

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I am Hungarian, a Romanian citizen of Hungarian ethnicity, but... I don't reproach myself for anything, because I served... Romania's interest.