‘The Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (RMDSZ) anticipates forming a governing majority in the Romanian parliament alongside the Social Democrats (PSD) and the National Liberal Party (PNL), though it does not rule out the possibility of a grand coalition,’ RMDSZ President Hunor Kelemen stated in an interview with public Kossuth Radio on Tuesday. He highlighted the importance of maintaining influence, noting that anti-Hungarian parties have gained significant strength.
In Sunday’s election, seven parties won seats in parliament, with the anti-Hungarian Union of Romanians (AUR) securing second place. According to Hunor Kelemen’s analysis, there is a possibility of a grand coalition that includes all parties except the AUR and the Young People’s Party. ‘They are the ones who are from the same tribe and are anti-Hungarian, as they have proven a thousand times,’ Kelemen remarked.
The president stated that he believes there is a strong chance of forming a government with the participation of RMDSZ, but noted that negotiations are unlikely to reach a conclusion until after the presidential elections on 8 December. Kelemen underlined that a balanced parliamentary majority is essential to ensuring stability and economic growth, adding that ‘this will not be possible without the RMDSZ.’ He also noted, however, that it is possible the necessary conditions might not be met, preventing the Hungarian party from joining the government and leaving it without any influence on governance.
Extremists on the Rise
The RMDSZ secured 6.4 percent of the vote in Sunday’s Romanian parliamentary elections, with 240,000 more votes cast for the Hungarian party compared to the previous election. ‘The Hungarian community came together, understood the danger, our message, and took responsibility for themselves and their homeland. Even people who had not voted for a long time participated in the election, as society sensed the real danger,’ Hunor Kelemen stated.
He also warned that a third of the parliament will now consist of extremist, anti-Hungarian parties, which have grown significantly stronger, tripling their presence compared to previous elections. Kelemen acknowledged that not all voters for these parties are anti-Hungarian but described them as angry—angry at the political elite, at the developments of recent years, and even at the last 25–30 years. ‘They voted against the existing system,’ he added.
‘A third of the parliament will now consist of extremist, anti-Hungarian parties, which have grown significantly stronger’
Hunor Kelemen recalled that the AUR first gained public attention through the desecration of a Hungarian military cemetery. ‘They entered parliament in 2020 with no real achievements apart from their anti-Hungarian actions, but I would not label their voters as 100 per cent anti-Hungarian,’ he noted.
The second round of Romania’s presidential elections will be held on 8 December, with far-right independent Călin Georgescu winning the first round and liberal Elena Lasconi coming in second. The RMDSZ is supporting Lasconi as the lesser of two evils and is encouraging its voters to do the same.
Kelemen outlined several key priorities for the government: preserving minority rights, fostering economic growth, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, repairing the health and education systems, and addressing the budget deficit and public debt.
He also emphasized the importance of family policy, particularly supporting young families and providing them with hope and prospects for the future. ‘If we cannot provide a good answer to population decline, then our presence in parliament and government is for absolutely nothing,’ Kelemen stated.
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