bizbrasov.ro/2026/11/05/balvanyos-balvanis-respins

The Romanian Chamber of Deputies rejected a bill to officially rename the tourist resort Balvanyos to Bălvăniș, ending its legislative journey. The Senate had previously voted against the proposal as well. The vote showed a clear majority against the change, with 166 deputies supporting the rejection. AUR lawmakers argued that the current name violates Romanian phonetic rules, claiming it creates a discrepancy between spelling and pronunciation. They suggested that the name Balvanyos is a unique case in Romania's toponymy, incorrectly adapted from the Hungarian Bálványos.