Despite fears that his candidacy as an independent would split the Hungarian vote in Romania’s European Parliamentary elections held over the weekend, both Bishop László Tőkes and representatives of the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (RMDSZ) made it into the European parliament, writes conservative daily Magyar Nemzet. Low turnout of 25% across Romania also probably worked out in the Hungarians’ favor as the elections were won with 29.2% by the center-right opposition Democratic Party.
Tőkés and leaders of the RMDSZ congratulated each other last night after exit polls showed they had won enough votes to enter the European Parliament. Tőkés said the electoral results were a victory for all Transylvanian Hungarians, and suggested that he and the RMDSZ should meet the following week for talks, before adding that the election results made false prophets of the prognosticators who predicted Tőkés’ run as an independent would split the Hungarian vote, and showed that differences of opinion could exist with Hungarians in Romania.
Béla Markó, president of RMDSZ said that unity and solidarity remain important tenets for Hungarians in Romania. While wishing Tőkés well, Markó added that had the Hungarians run on a single list, instead of three Hungarian-Romanian MEPs, he could be speaking about four or perhaps even five.
Taking a far less conciliatory note, György Frunda, who was first on the RMDSZ’s list, said that the bishop’s main goals were to hamper the RMDSZ’s position in the EP elections. Adding that the Hungarians could have potentially picked up 4-5 MEP seats, Frunda stated that Tőkés’ cannot be at peace with himself over his actions.
