2011-10-21

DAHR’s Census Caravan visited Mures County last week before the census in Romania. The Caravan reached Iernut and Ludus on the 21st of October. During public forums organized here DAHR’s MEP Csaba Sógor and DAHR’s Deputy Secretary General István Székely emphasized the importance of the upcoming census for ethnic Hungarians in Romania.

DAHR’s Caravan travelled 1000 kilometers and informed people about the census in over 50 localities during last week. István Székely informed the audience about the visit of the enumerators, the correct answers to be given about ethnicity, mother tongue and religion. He said that Hungarians need to make sure that they are registered as Hungarians and that forms are filled for all members of their household even if absent.

Csaba Sógor spoke about the long-term effects of the census. DAHR’s MEP called attention to the fact that in the next ten years the financial support given by the Romanian state to the Hungarian minority living here will be calculated based upon the results of the census. „Declaring that we are Hungarians at the census is equal to a vote, but this time the Hungarian community’s mandate is will last for ten years” – said the MEP who also added that “Declaring ourselves Hungarians in large numbers will have an impact on the future of our minority rights and on the Hungarian education system in Romania.”