Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania

The Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania, (also Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania; Hungarian: Romániai Magyar Demokrata Szövetség, RMDSZ; Romanian: Uniunea Democrată Maghiară din România, UDMR) is a Romanian political alliance, effectively (though not officially) a party, representing ethnic Hungarians in Romania. As of 2004, it is part of the governing coalition, along with the Justice and Truth Alliance and the Conservative Party.

Hungarian Reformed Church bishop László Tőkés was the honorary president of the party until 2003.

Status

Although represented in both houses of the Romanian Parliament since its formation, UDMR has not been registered as a political party; instead, it is classified as a "union" or "alliance", which incorporates several platforms of different ideologies.

UDMR aims to represent the Magyar (ethnic Hungarian) community of Romania, which is one of the largest national minorities in Europe (1,431,807 citizens, according to the 2002 census). In national elections, the union consistently obtains around 6% of the votes, which roughly corresponds to the percentage of ethnic Hungarian voters. Since 1996, UDMR has been part of all of Romania's governing coalitions, although not always a formal partner in government.

History

UDMR was founded December 25th 1989, immediately after the fall of the Communist dictatorship in the (Romanian Revolution of 1989), to represent in public the interests of the Hungarian community in Romania. Its founder was the writer Domokos Géza.

UDMR obtained consistent results during the 1990, 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004 elections, gaining representation in both houses of the Parliament. Until 1996, the UDMR acted in opposition. From 1996 the party governed in a coalition with the Romanian Democratic Convention (Convenţia Democrată Română, CDR)—a wide alliance that won the elections that year—and obtained some positions in the government of Victor Ciorbea. Four years later, the formerly-in-opposition Social Democratic Party of Romania (PSD) won the 2000 elections. Although UDMR did not join the new government as a coalition partner, it did sign a series of annual contracts with the PSD in which the PSD pledged to implement certain legal rights for the Hungarian minority community in return for UDMR's support in parliament.

UDMR's presence in the government has been largely perceived as beneficial for Romania's international image, as well as a factor of stability in Romanian political life.

In the 2004 elections, the UDMR made an alliance to back Adrian Năstase of the Social Democratic Party, who was the favourite to win the presidential elections, but the surprise victory of Traian Băsescu rocked the Romanian political spectrum. After negotiations, the UDMR, together with the Romanian Humanist Party (now the Conservative Party), defected from the PSD alliance and pledged to form a coalition with the Justice and Truth Alliance. The UDMR obtained positions in the government.

Doctrine

UDMR encompasses several platforms subscribing to social-democratic, liberal, or conservative doctrines. However, the union firmly delimits itself from groups manifesting non-democratic, or extreme left or right views. As a whole, the union represents a centrist, moderate political ideology, with strong pro-European and pro-democratic affiliation.

As an ethnic minority party representing Romanian Magyars the UDMR, above all, concerns itself with defining ethnic minority rights and strengthening the conditions under which minority communities in Romania may preserve and nurture ethnic identity.

This goal encompasses:

Free usage of mother tongue in private and public life, as well as in administration and justice.
Development of a native-language school system, with all levels and all types of instruction.

UDMR also strongly supports:

Integration of Romania into European structures.
Decentralization of administration.
Consolidation of the market economy.

UDMR is strongly in favor of autonomy, both cultural (on an individual basis), and territorial (for larger groups of ethnic minorities, living in compact blocks). UDMR leaders have claimed on several occasions that they believe local autonomy to be the most appropriate and efficient form of self-government. However, UDMR has also stated that it wishes to achieve this goal only through a dialogue and consensus with the Romanian majority, and based on proven Western European models.

UDMR has been criticised on several occasions for its lack of specific doctrine. The main argument for preserving the current structure is that if it would split up into smaller fractions of different ideological orientation, it would be impossible for the Hungarian community to obtain a representation in the Parliament due to the electoral threshold of 5%.

Several voices from within the UDMR and the Hungarian community have criticised it for being too moderate, and making too many compromises in political treaties with other Romanian parties. The Civic Alliance of Hungarians split from UDMR, aiming to form a separate, more radical, political entity. However, during the 2004 elections, UDMR proved to still have the support of the overwhelming majority of Hungarians. Disputes with this fraction-group led to the departure of László Tőkés (who was in support of the break-away group) from the position of honorary president.

Structure

As of 2006, the current UDMR president, Markó Béla, a writer of Hungarian ethnicity, who has held this position since 1992.

UDMR is structured into 22 territorial organizations, covering all regions of Transylvania and the capital Bucharest, as well as into platforms representing different political ideologies. It has several associated partners and groups representing the civil society, or the social, scientific, artistic or professional domains. As decision-making bodies, UDMR operates a Council of Representatives, a Congress, and an Operative COuncil.

Achievements

After the 2004 elections the UDMR designated the following members of the government:

Markó Béla – Deputy Prime Minister responsible for Education, Culture and European Integration
Nagy Zsolt – Minister for Communications and Information Technology
Borbély László – Minister Delegate for the Coordination of Public Works and Territory Management
Winkler Iuliu – Minister Delegate for Commerce

As of 2006, these four all continue to hold these positions.

UDMR sent 10 senators and 22 deputies to the Romanian Parliament, accounting for (respectively) 7.3% and 6.6% of the seats. 186 mayors, 250 deputy mayors, 2481 local councilors and 112 county councilors were named by UDMR, and claim as its major accomplishment in that election the fact that UDMR mayors were elected in some cities where Hungarians are in the minority, such as Satu Mare, Reghin, Marghita and Jimbolia. This signals an end to ethnicity-based voting, and proves that UDMR has some support and acceptance within the ethnic Romanian majority.

Some of the main accomplishments of UDMR in previous years concerning the Hungarian minority are:

developments in the educational system, including reclaiming for Hungarian-language education some (though not all) schools that were transformed during the Communist regime.
the law that allowed partial restitution of real estate confiscated during the Communist regime.
a modification of the administrative law, allowing for the use of Hungarian names of towns and villages as well as Romanian names (on public signs and indicators) where Hungarians live in numbers larger than 20%.

External links

Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania official site

1989 establishments

Political parties of minorities | Political parties in Romania