Romania’s Hungarian Minority Party Leader Says Territorial Autonomy Should Be Top Priority

Marko is stepping down as party leader and UDMR, part of the ruling coalition, has assembled in Oradea, western Romania, to elect a new party president.

„Territorial autonomy has remained an unsolved claim because it needs deep reform in administration and state organization. Some conditions for cultural autonomy are included in the recently adopted education law,” Marko told party delegates and guests at the party congress, adding territorial autonomy could be the major priority of coming years.

He also said autonomy can only be achieved if there is political consensus.

The new head of the party will be elected by 555 party delegates from current Culture Minister Kelemen Hunor, presidential adviser Eckstein Kovacs Peter and lawmaker Olosz Gergely.

The party’s election meeting is also attended by Prime Minister Emil Boc, Democratic Liberal Party secretary general Vasile Blaga, opposition Social Democratic Party leader Victor Ponta and opposition Liberal Party leader Crin Antonescu. Guests include party leaders from Hungary, Slovakia and Serbia.