Előd Kincses (2 October 1941 – 25 June 2025) was a Romanian-Hungarian lawyer, legal and public writer.
Kincses was born 2 October 1941 inTârgu Mureș (Hungarian:Marosvásárhely). He became a legal advisor in his hometown in 1964. He was a member of the Romanian Lawyers' Association, and his legal commentaries were published inthe Revista Română de Drept. He also regularly published articles on sports inÚj Élet. In 1989, he was the defense counsel ofLászló Tőkés in his eviction trial, which eventually led to the1989 Romanian Revolution.[1]
On 2 January 1990, as the successor ofKároly Király, he became the vice-president of theNational Salvation Front and theProvisional Council of National Unity inMureș County. During the "Black March" of 19–20 March 1990, he played a key role in shaping events as vice-president. With his personal actions, he prevented thousands ofSzeklers fromHarghita andCovasna counties from entering Târgu Mureș, as he believed that the power of the time needed an escalation of the riots.[2] After the clashes, he asked the Hungarian population of Târgu Mureș as a responsible leader to go home and not respond to the provocations. Seeing the situation deteriorate, he repeatedly asked for the intervention of theRomanian Army andPolice, which was repeated byRadio Târgu Mureș. In the face of the lack of help and order, as well as the increasing clashes, he appealed to the Hungarian population of Târgu Mureș to defend themselves, and he also asked for the help of the surrounding villages with a Hungarian majority to come to help and prevent the influx of Romanian armed peasants into the city. His decision proved to be the right one, and the people of Târgu Mureș finally defended themselves.[3]
Following the ethnic clashes, he became the focus of attacks by Romanian extremist elements, and sought refuge in Hungary andVienna during the period of the first arrests and show trials.[4] From December 1991 to August 1992, he was the Secretary General of the World Federation of Hungarians.[5]
He later worked as a lawyer inBudapest, and when the political situation subsided, he returned toTransylvania. He ran as an independent candidate in the 2008 local elections in the area ofMarosszék,[clarification needed] but was defeated byBéla Markó.[6]
Kincses died in Târgu Mureș on 25 June 2025, at the age of 84.[7]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
