Csanad Major, a diplomat at Hungary's mission, said this was the second attack in a week, with the first having occurred last Thursday night. The poet's name and plaque were partially chiselled off, the bronze relief of Petofi was pried loose and stolen, and the pillar was damaged with a hammer, smeared with paint and scrawled on. Attempts were also made to topple the monument.

The diplomatic mission condemned the act, calling Petofi a symbol of Hungarian freedom, national independence and European democratic values. The statue, unveiled in 2004, also represents Hungarian-French cultural ties and Europe's intellectual heritage. Legal steps are being taken with local authorities.

The opposition Fidesz-KDNP European Parliament group also condemned the "vandalism attack" as "shocking, painful and utterly deplorable", emphasising the statue's role as a symbol of Hungarian unity and historical memory. They expressed hope that, once restored, the monument would continue to uphold the values of Hungarian freedom and national cohesion in Strasbourg.

Photo: Hungary's Permanent Representation to the Council of Europe - Facebook

Source: MTI – Hungary’s national news agency since 1881. While MTI articles are usually factual, some may contain political bias, and readers should be aware that such content does not reflect the position of XpatLoop, which is neutral and independent.

Since the goal of XpatLoop is to keep readers well briefed, right across the spectrum of opinions, MTI items are shared to ensure readers are aware of all narratives within the local media.

XpatLoop believes in empowering readers to form their own views through complete and comprehensive coverage. To facilitate this XpatLoop has a balanced range of news partners, as you can see when you surf around XpatLoop.com

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