Conservatives say they will not vote for the minorities' law
Oana Dan
The leader of the Conservative Party (PC), Dan Voiculescu, announced
yesterday that the deputies of the party will not support the
minorities' law proposed by the Hungarian Democratic Alliance (UDMR),
rousing a strong reaction from UDMR leader Marko Bela.
Voiculescu also said that the party will withdraw its representatives
from the parliamentary committee which is currently debating the law.
Voiculescu criticized the UDMR senators for having voted against an
amendment which they initiated, stipulating that even if the
minorities' law is adopted and applied in counties where there are many
Hungarians, Romanians would still be represented in the local councils.
"The Hungarian Democratic Alliance has ignored the amendment signed by
its president," Voiculescu said, adding that he is aware the PC's
decision will affect the relations they have with the other coalition
parties and with the UDMR in particular.
Voiculescu stressed that their decision will have a heavy impact,
politically speaking.
Marko reacted, saying that the Conservatives do not respect their
coalition commitments, arguing that assuming partnership in the
governing coalition means cooperation and collaboration among the
partners.
Voiculescu said that, as a Romanian, and also as a member of the
government, the Conservatives cannot ignore the wishes of the people
living in the counties with large numbers of Hungarians.
He added that he is ready to assume responsibility for the possible
stiffening of relations with the Hungarians.
Recently, the Hungarian leader said that President Traian Basescu
should assume the role of a mediator on interethnic issues and should
hire an adviser for minorities' problems.
The draft law on minorities has been highly controversial, causing
conflicts and disputes, both in Parliament and in the governing
coalition, where the Democrats have publicly announced they are against
several of the stipulations of the draft, including that on cultural
autonomy.
Marko had then replied that passing the minorities' status law without
cultural autonomy is pointless, saying that the party he runs has set
as a top priority to get the national minorities' law through
Parliament.
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