The democratization, empowerment, and progress of a community hinge significantly on the actions and influence of its political leadership. Over the past three decades, the political leadership of the Hungarian community in Romania has established a centralized, authoritarian structure that exerts control over both the political landscape and the community itself, lacking the hallmarks of genuine democracy.
Operating at the intersection of a civil organization and a political party, the Hungarian “Democratic” Alliance of Romania (DAHR) was originally conceived to advocate for the political and economic interests of the Hungarian community in Romania. However, it has become apparent that the political entity has focused on consolidating its dominance within the ethnic community, while the Hungarian community faces ongoing assimilation and marginalization.
Before Romania’s accession to the European Union, significant strides were made in advancing the rights of national minorities, including linguistic and educational rights, self-governance, and parliamentary representation. These advancements were largely driven by strong lobbying efforts within the Council of Europe and Romania’s commitment to Euro-Atlantic values. However, despite these achievements, the implementation of minority rights remains a domestic concern, with DAHR playing a pivotal role in advocating for their realization.
Contrary to DAHR’s assertions over the past three decades, which have prioritized economic development over minority rights, the reality suggests that neither minority rights nor economic progress has been effectively realized within the Hungarian community in Romania. Despite DAHR’s prominent presence in parliamentary and local government spheres and its receipt of exclusive financial resources allocated for the Hungarian minority by Romania, the organization’s control over public media, manipulation of economic actors, and adherence to a divisive “us versus them” approach raise questions about its contribution to democratic processes both within Romania and the Hungarian community.
Our initiative aims to closely monitor DAHR’s activities across local governments, parliament, the European Parliament, county councils, and other institutions where DAHR officials hold positions. We assess the transparency and democratic decision-making within these bodies, as well as the application of minority rights, particularly linguistic and educational rights. Additionally, we scrutinize the activities of DAHR members delegated to various state institutions.
As part of the “Democratic Single-Party System” program, during the pivotal election year of 2024, we will launch the “Responsible Governance” project. This initiative seeks to bolster democratic and community-centered governance within the Hungarian community in Romania. Through this project, our objective is to assess the degree to which elected DAHR representatives have adhered to democratic principles, prioritized the rights of their community, and effectively advocated for these values over the past four years.