tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689571.post8257858320109139861..comments2023-11-05T12:59:29.404+02:00Comments on Csíkszereda musings: Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11294221123964774524noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689571.post-6664187250906981772008-11-29T06:43:00.000+02:002008-11-29T06:43:00.000+02:00We have two (rather attractive, not that it should...We have two (rather attractive, not that it should matter, of course) ladies running here in Cluj, one for the UDMR and the other (I think) for the PSD. <BR/><BR/>I stopped in my tracks yesterday though when I saw a poster for <A HREF="http://www.uniunea-elena.ro/pdfs/alegeri/Pliant%20electoral%20Dragos%20Zisopol.pdf" REL="nofollow">Dragoş-Gabriel Zisopol</A>, running under the banner of the Hellenic Union of Romania (my rough translation) with the slogan "Greek soul, Romanian Heart". I find this idea fascinating - applying the ideals of Hellenism to Romanian life - dose anybody know if these folk are serious candidates?Gadjo Dilohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08998278830936531990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689571.post-31275618093343358492008-11-28T11:20:00.000+02:002008-11-28T11:20:00.000+02:00Actually, Tarle said that this spring, after he mo...Actually, Tarle said that this spring, after he moved to PNL. <BR/><BR/>Eckstein is indeed the only Romanian politician to declare clearly that he supports gay marriages.<BR/><BR/>Nevertheless, UDMR can't be considered a socially progressive party, it's just a bunch of people whose only thing in common is that they're Hungarians. I'm almost sure that the Catholic priest who runs for UDMR in my electoral district doesn't support gay marriages. :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689571.post-19764334665720210392008-11-28T04:49:00.000+02:002008-11-28T04:49:00.000+02:00I think you might be phrasing the opposition too s...I think you might be phrasing the opposition too strongly.<BR/><BR/>Key figures in the UDMR, such as Gyorgy Frunda and Peter Eckstein Kovacs, have actually come out in support of gay rights, with Eckstein Kovacs even stating that he supports registered partnership for same-sex couples.<BR/><BR/>Radu Tarle is indeed an example of homophobic speech, but he made those statements while he was in the PD (not that it matters a whole lot). Nevertheless, it's true that the PNL does have a few homophobes. However, they seem to be outnumbered by people who are either ambivalent, favourable or politically correct.<BR/><BR/>The open characterisation of homosexuality as "immoral, shameful etc" has mostly been restricted to the far-right parties such as PRM and PNG.<BR/><BR/>It's interesting that you bring up the Green Party. I find them fascinating, since they seem to be very far away from the values of the "green political movement". Not only on gay rights, but also on things like separation of church and state, economics, social justice, minority rights, etc. You even get people like Gheorghe Zamfir declaring his Christian credentials and stating that the Green Party is pro-Christian values!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689571.post-2000879566819272162008-11-27T12:32:00.000+02:002008-11-27T12:32:00.000+02:00Well, PNL and UDMR have tried to keep quiet offici...Well, PNL and UDMR have tried to keep quiet officially about the issue, but individual politicians belonging to those parties have made public their disgust of homosexuality, which they consider immoral, shameful, against Romanian family values and incompatible with Christianity.<BR/><BR/>For example, Radu Tarle (PNL), President of the County Council of Bihor said: "It's a great shame that our capitals hosts each year such manifestations."<BR/><BR/>Even the Greens, who, by belonging to the European Greens, are required to support gay marriage, never brought up the subject. (I suspect they don't know they have to support it)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689571.post-20471867873656066962008-11-27T10:48:00.000+02:002008-11-27T10:48:00.000+02:00re Bogdan - it's not necessarily true that all Rom...re Bogdan - it's not necessarily true that all Romanian parties are anti-gay. The Liberals (PNL) and the UDMR have so far not engaged in overt homophobia. Key figures from the otherwise rather conservative PDL have supported the annual GayFest pride parade.<BR/><BR/>However, the stance of the parties towards gay rights makes a broader statement about the peculiar nature of the Romanian political spectrum.<BR/><BR/>The PSD are allied with the Conservatives because they actually have quite a lot in common. Unlike Western European leftist parties, the PSD are largely social conservatives, drawing their support from the populist rural and low-income electorate. Thus, the PSD is actually more anti-gay than the PDL and PNL. It is also more anti-Hungarian and more nationalist.<BR/><BR/>I also disagree slightly with Andy that the PNL (Liberals) are to the right of the PDL (Democrats). The PDL are part of the EPP-ED Christian Democratic Group in the European Parliament, and they have tried to present themselves to the public as a liberal conservative party, quite akin to the British Tories.<BR/><BR/>The PNL, on the other hand, is economically liberal and more socially liberal than the PDL. In particular, it is more supportive of ethnic minority rights. Nevertheless, they take pride in their "right-wing" position, often distinguishing themselves as being the true "right wing" party in Romania.<BR/><BR/>This is because, in Romania, "right wing" does not have the socially conservative connotations it does in Western Europe. Rather, "right wing" means "economically liberal, pro-middle class, pro-Western", while "left wing" means "socialist, populist". Fascist parties such as the PRM never call themselves "right wing" in Romania, since nationalism is not seen as being right wing. Indeed, the PRM has on repeated occassions called itself a "party of the left".<BR/><BR/>Due to its urban, tertiary educated electorate, the self-declared right wing PNL is just about the most socially liberal party in Romania.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689571.post-92225824567805463022008-11-27T02:21:00.000+02:002008-11-27T02:21:00.000+02:00About the gay issue: all Romanian parties are anti...About the gay issue: all Romanian parties are anti-gay, the difference is that the Conservatives bring up the subject without being asked about it.<BR/><BR/>About women, there are a few in Bucharest. <BR/><BR/>BTW, in my district, there's a PDL candidate, Anca Boagiu, who missed around 90% of the votes in the Parliament in the last four years... <BR/><BR/>If she gets re-elected, that's a proof that there's no differences between lists and candidates, because people don't actually follow the activity of their MPs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689571.post-19796988760505161662008-11-26T00:58:00.000+02:002008-11-26T00:58:00.000+02:00I´ve lived in Romania for one year. They are all p...I´ve lived in Romania for one year. They are all pathetic. reading a serious newspaper is just hilarious. You really can´t understand how people allow it. <BR/><BR/>It is a shame, a total disaster with no future.<BR/><BR/>It´s often said tha people get what deserve. Do romanians deserve this? Mmm...good question <BR/><BR/>Ps. <BR/>If PDL wins, will PC move for the second time from socialdemocracy to liberalism? Place betsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com