FUEN supports RMDSZ, FDGR and MPP at the Romanian parliamentary elections

Parliamentary elections will take place in Romania on the 11 December 2016 for the 8^th time since the fall of the communist regime. It is an important date for the Romanian member organizations of the FUEN: the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (RMDSZ), and its ally in this election the Hungarian Civic Party (MPP), as well as the Democratic Forum of Germans in Romania (FDGR).

The election bares particular importance for the Hungarian community in Romania. After successfully strengthening its positions at the local elections held in June, the RMDSZ needs to reaffirm the parliamentary representation of the Hungarian community. The RMDSZ had an uninterrupted presence in the Romanian Parliament since 1990, passing the five percent threshold of parliamentary groups every time. The political representation of the German community, along with the other 17 recognized national minorities in Romania, has a guaranteed seat in the Parliament.

The FUEN welcomes the cooperation between its two Hungarian member organizations, the RMDSZ and the MPP. In our opinion, a joint Hungarian candidate list under the logo of the RMDSZ is the best way for the community to show strength and determination. This represents the best chance to keep its weight on the national political stage.

The strong and unified representation is especially important in times when the Hungarian community in Romania faces increasing tensions. Rising nationalism in the Romanian society, a judicial ban on community symbols, limitation of language rights, limitation of the self-administration of higher education, a witch-hunt against Hungarian leaders, the problematic restitution process of properties and recent attacks against Hungarian confessional education are just some of the grievances expressed by the RMDSZ in the last couple of years. Recent surveys also show that regions where Hungarians in a majority are frequently mistreated and underfinanced.

The participation in government by the RMDSZ always brought balance in the Romanian internal politics, it improved the Romanian-Hungarian bilateral relations, and it served the reconciliation process between the Romanian majority and minority communities. Such an outcome would bring stability in Romania and the most needed societal development of the Hungarians in Transylvania.

The Hungarians in Romania have goals that are achievable within the European framework, and have already been implemented in other EU member states. The FUEN strongly supports the RMDSZ, with a broadly renewed, strong, professional candidate list in the upcoming elections. They propose European solutions in the benefit of the Hungarian community and the entire Transylvania. The improvement of the daily life and the much needed protection of community rights can only be reached if the legitimate representation of the Hungarians in Romania is strongly represented in the national parliament and the executive power I therefore ask the Hungarian electorate in Romania to show solidarity, responsibility and determination and vote for the Hungarian candidate list.

Loránt Vincze
President of the FUEN