Democratic Alliance of Hungarian Gypsies, also known as Alliance of the Hungarian Gypsies Democratic Party or Magyatorszagi Ciganyok Demokratikus Szovetse (MDCSZ); history; funding; its influence on Hungarian or Romani society and politics; whether its members are targeted by the police or other state authorities [HUN37646.E]

The Democratic Alliance of Hungarian Gypsies was established on 2 November 1988 (Cold War History Research Center. 10-12 June 1999). One of its main objectives have to get Roma recognized as an ethnic minority in Hungary (ibid.).

A July 1996 Human Rights Watch (HRW) report states that the Democratic Alliance of Hungarian Gypsies had listed 91 candidates in the 1994 parliamentary elections. The report also states that the party had received 1.8 millions forints as budgetary support from the government in 1992, but did not receive any government funding in 1993 and 1994.

In March 1998, the Democratic Alliance of Hungarian Gypsies, then the largest Romani organization in Hungary signed an electoral "cooperation pact" with the Independent Smallholders' Party (RFE/RL 19 Mar. 1998).

In April 2001 the Democratic Alliance of Hungarian Gypsies re-elected Gyula Naday as party chairman and approved changes to the party's political platform (Duna TV Satellite Service 28 Apr. 2001). In the approved document, it is stated that the Alliance strives towards a "civic, Christian and humanistic society" that focuses on the people's needs and in which the Roma in Hungary will be guaranteed "continuous material and spiritual development" (ibid.). The party also hopes that improvements in the Roma's well-being can be achieved through cooperation with the Hungarian majority, and uses as an example the successful participation of the Alliance in the implementation of the national social land programme (ibid.).

The Chairman of the Democratic Alliance was also in April 2000 president of the Democratic Federation of Roma in Hungary (Hungary 1 Apr. 2000)

A 29 July 2001 Hungarian News Agency (MTI) report states that a "Roma Democratic Party" has joined the Roma Unity Party of Hungary and the Roma Party of Hungary to form a coalition called the Alliance of Gypsy Parties, in anticipation of the 2002 parliamentary elections.

No further information on the Democratic Alliance of Hungarian Gypsies, including its aims, objectives, activities, political ideology, funding and its influence on Hungarian society, could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References


Cold War History Research Center, Budapest. 10-12 June 1999. Political Transition in Hungary 1989-1990: Chronology of Events. http://www.coldwar.hu/html/en/_4_88_t.html [Accessed 31 July 2001]

Duna TV satellite service [Budapest, in Hungarian]. 28 Apr. 2001. "Hungary: Gypsy Association Open to Election Cooperation with Ruling Parties." (NEXIS)

Human Rights Watch (HRW). July 1996. Rights Denied: The Roma of Hungary. Http://www.hrw.org/reports/1996/Hungary.htm. [Accessed 3 August 2001]

Hungarian News Agency (MTI). 27 July 2001. "New Alliance of Gypsy Parties Holds News Conference." (Global News Wire 29 Jul. 2001/NEXIS)

Hungary. Prime Minister's Office. Office for National and Ethnic Minorities in Hungary: contact list. 1 April 2000. http://www.meh.hu/nekh/Angol/5-11-2.htm. [Accessed 31 July 2001]

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). 19 March 1998. "Hungarian Opposition Leader Receives More Bomb Threats." http://www.rferl.org/newsline/1998/03/3-CEE/cee-190398.html [Accessed 31 July 2001]

Additional Sources Consulted


IRB databases

Political Handbook of the World 1999

Internet sources including:

Amnesty International

The European Roma Rights Center (ERRC)

International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF)

The Patrin Web Journal

Political Resources on the Net

World News Connection (WNC)

World Wide Directory of Parties

Search Engines:

Fast

Google

MetaEureka

Associated documents