Anti-Hungarian Sentiment Rising in Romania

"Anti-Hungarian forces have grown stronger with 37 percent support, translating to 40 percent of the parliamentary seats. We must protect the community, but for this Hungarians need to help their representatives to secure a position so that we can take action against anti-Hungarians. If we are not there, if we become weaker, it will be impossible to defend ourselves, to protect the Hungarian minority. We must raise awareness to this," Hunor Kelemen, leader and former presidential candidate of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (RMDSZ), told Magyar Nemzet in an interview.

Hunor Kelemen, president and presidential candidate of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (RMDSZ), comments on the first round of the presidential elections in Romania (Photo: MTI/Gabor Kiss)

Voters are likely to "punish" the big Romanian parties and go to the polls in greater numbers. How can you ensure that the Hungarian community turns out in adequate numbers in the elections?

In the first round of the presidential elections, voters clearly punished the presidential candidates of the two ruling parties. I think that this is not over yet, and it will continue in the parliamentary elections, but to what extent I do not know. Everyone predicts a high turnout, up to 11-12 million voters. Every time we tell everyone what is at stake in the elections and we use every communication channel, saying

no one can stay at home.

Anti-Hungarian forces have grown stronger with 37 percent support, translating to 40 percent of the parliamentary seats. We must protect the community, but for this Hungarians need to help their representatives to secure a position so that we can take action against anti-Hungarians. If we are not there, if we become weaker, it will be impossible to defend ourselves, to protect the Hungarian minority. We must raise awareness to this.

Do you think that the political tension in the period between the presidential and parliamentary elections could  escalate? Do you expect protests to take place after the elections, or perhaps a political war?

I cannot answer that today. In any case, we will have to wait to see the result of the recount, as decided by the constitutional court, and see whether the body will then confirm or annul the results of the first round of the presidential election. If the latter is the case, then obviously the first round will have to be held again, which will result in a completely different situation. The consequences of this are unforeseeable in many respects, and I don't want to make any predictions. 

We, Hungarians in Transylvania, the Hungarian community, have one thing to do. On December 1, we must not lose. No one can stay home that day. We cannot lose on December 1, we must save ourselves now. The most important thing is to save ourselves, save the community, and then we will have time to deal with other issues.

Cover photo: Hunor Kelemen, president and presidential candidate of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (RMDSZ), comments on the first round of the presidential elections in Romania (Photo: MTI/Gabor Kiss)