BUCHAREST, October 10. /TASS/. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that the parliamentary elections in his country next year will determine the fate of the Hungarian nation.

"I want to say clearly and distinctly that next year will not only concern the future composition of the Hungarian government, but the destiny of the nation, its freedom and sovereignty," he stated, addressing the congress of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania, held in Romania’s Cluj County. "In April 2026, the homeland will need the Hungarians of Transylvania," Orban’s words were quoted by the Agerpres agency.

"The DAHR in Bucharest is a pillar of stability and a voice of reason; in Budapest, the DAHR is a reliable partner; in Brussels, it represents Hungarian interests. Therefore, I say that the DAHR is not merely a minority organization but a key element of national strategy," Orban emphasized.

"In Budapest, we see that Hungarians in Romania and Hungary share a common interest: to ensure stability along the Danube so that the peoples living here coexist with respect rather than conflict," the Hungarian premier remarked. "If our neighbors prosper, then we prosper too, and that’s why we are invested in Romania’s well-being and in the achievements of the government headed by Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan."

The 17th DAHR congress marks the 35th anniversary of the party’s founding, representing the Hungarian minority in Romania. About 1,000 delegates are attending, including the leader of the National Liberal Party, Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, and acting chairman of the Social Democratic Party, Sorin Grindeanu.

According to the Antena 3 television channel, Romanian President Nicolae Dan withdrew from the DAHR congress at the last moment because, as explained by the presidential administration, the singing of the "Szekler anthem" at the event could have placed him in a "delicate position." The Szeklers are an ethnic subgroup within Romania’s Hungarian minority, residing mainly in Covasna, Harghita and Mures counties, referring to their homeland as the "Szekler Land." They call for greater autonomy within Romania, including new forms of local self-government. However, Romanian authorities view these demands as separatist and do not acknowledge the "Szekler Land" as a distinct entity.