DAHR’s Christian-Democrat Platform wishes to see a more people-friendly political approach from the DAHR
Last year’s activities, current political issues, the evaluation of the European Peoples Party’s work and the European Citizen’s initiative were discussed at the annual general meeting of the Christian-democrat platform of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania on Friday, February 22nd, at Gãiești.
Beside Péter Eckstein-Kovács, representing the National-Liberal Platform of DAHR and members of the Romanian Parliament József Moldován and István Erdei, DAHR MEP Csaba Sógor was also present at the meeting. The attenders discussed the viability and sustainability of territorial autonomy in Transylvania and Romania’s regionalization project.
Kálmán Kelemen, the president of the Christian-democrat platform declared that taking part in the process of reforming and renewing the DAHR is a task of the platform he leads. Those present at the meeting agreed that the Alliance’s future focus should be on building and consolidating small communities, finding solutions to people’s problems, but most importantly, on implementing a policy that is closer to the people.
“The Alliance has moved away from the people, and we saw the results this had during the last elections. If this tendency continues, we may not be able to obtain seats in the Parliament in three years time” – said the president of the platform.
MEP Csaba Sógor expressed his view that the DAHR has not moved away from the electorate, but that it is sometimes exhausting to constantly fight a battle against windmills, and this has taken a toll on our politicians’ enthusiasm. “The nationalist rhetoric of Romanian politics shows how easily things can regress in our country. But we, politicians as well as the people have to believe that our presence in the Romanian Parliament will never be meaningless. I believe that in our work in the Romanian Parliament we have to follow the European example, because openness, dialogue and continuous, responsible representation are values that Hungarians of Transylvania hold dear”, stressed Sógor.
Sógor offered a detailed presentation of the opportunities presented by the European Citizens’ Initiative. This Initiative makes it possible for people to submit legislative proposals, if signed by at least one million EU citizens. The MEP presented some already existing proposals, such as making quality European education more accessible, making the access to clean water and the sewage system a basic right, or classifying ecocide as a crime. “Making use of the opportunities presented by the European Citizens’ Initiative was also discussed at the FUEN Congress. The Hungarian minority of Romania has to find issues that is has in common with other European minorities, and ask for their support. I believe that Local NGO’s and DAHR’s platforms play an important role in this matter”, said Sógor.
Kálmán Kelemen, the president of the Christian-democrat platform declared that taking part in the process of reforming and renewing the DAHR is a task of the platform he leads. Those present at the meeting agreed that the Alliance’s future focus should be on building and consolidating small communities, finding solutions to people’s problems, but most importantly, on implementing a policy that is closer to the people.
“The Alliance has moved away from the people, and we saw the results this had during the last elections. If this tendency continues, we may not be able to obtain seats in the Parliament in three years time” – said the president of the platform.
MEP Csaba Sógor expressed his view that the DAHR has not moved away from the electorate, but that it is sometimes exhausting to constantly fight a battle against windmills, and this has taken a toll on our politicians’ enthusiasm. “The nationalist rhetoric of Romanian politics shows how easily things can regress in our country. But we, politicians as well as the people have to believe that our presence in the Romanian Parliament will never be meaningless. I believe that in our work in the Romanian Parliament we have to follow the European example, because openness, dialogue and continuous, responsible representation are values that Hungarians of Transylvania hold dear”, stressed Sógor.
Sógor offered a detailed presentation of the opportunities presented by the European Citizens’ Initiative. This Initiative makes it possible for people to submit legislative proposals, if signed by at least one million EU citizens. The MEP presented some already existing proposals, such as making quality European education more accessible, making the access to clean water and the sewage system a basic right, or classifying ecocide as a crime. “Making use of the opportunities presented by the European Citizens’ Initiative was also discussed at the FUEN Congress. The Hungarian minority of Romania has to find issues that is has in common with other European minorities, and ask for their support. I believe that Local NGO’s and DAHR’s platforms play an important role in this matter”, said Sógor.
