Democratic Forum of Germans in Romania

The Democratic Forum of Germans in Romania (Das Demokratische Forum der Deutschen in Rumänien or Demokratisches Forum der Deutschen in Rumänien, DFDR; Forumul Democrat al Germanilor din România, FDGR; in short Forumul German or Das Forum) is a political party (legally recognized as an association of public utility according to the governmental decision HG 599 as per 4 June 2008) organised on ethnic criteria representing the interests of the German minority in Romania. Initially, the FDGR/DFDR was a cultural association representing the culture of the German community in Romania, but it subsequently became a moderately successful local political party (especially amongst Romanian voters as well), most notably in parts of Transylvania (central Romania) and Banat (south-western Romania). Consequently, the counties where the FDGR/DFDR obtained the highest political scores in many local elections after 1989 are Sibiu (Kreis Hermannstadt) and Timiș (Kreis Temesch) respectively. The forum was founded at the end of 1989, in the wake of the Romanian Revolution which culminated with the downfall of Nicolae Ceaușescu's dictatorship. Despite originally being a German minority party (and, initially, a cultural organization), it gradually grew quite popular amongst many ethnic Romanians, especially in parts of Transylvania and Banat, including, most notably, the major town of Sibiu (Hermannstadt), where the party still holds a majority in the local town council (12 out of 23 seats), as well as in the County of Sibiu. Aside from its significant presence in Transylvania and Banat, the FDGR/DFDR is also active in Bukovina (i.e. Suceava County), yet without any elected representatives in the local politics, acting instead in the manner of a cultural foundation which periodically organizes a wide range of educational and cultural events. In terms of reputation, the party is regarded as independent, whilst its politicians, including former Sibiu mayor, former party leader, and current President of Romania, Klaus Johannis, have earned respect as thorough administrators.

About this result

This page is automatically generated and may contain information that is not correct, complete, up-to-date, or relevant to your search query. The same applies to every other page on this website. Please make sure to verify the information with EPFL's official sources.

Related concepts (11)

Cârlibaba

Cârlibaba (Mariensee, Ludwigsdorf, or Kirlibaba; Kirlibaba) is a commune located in Suceava County, Bukovina, northeastern Romania. It is composed of six villages, namely: Cârlibaba (Veche; also the commune seat), Cârlibaba Nouă, Iedu (Jedt), Șesuri (Schessu), Țibău (Zibau), and Valea Stânei (Hüttenthal bei Mariensee). In standard German (i.e. Hochdeutsch), Cârlibaba Veche is known as Mariensee whereas Cârlibaba Nouă is known as Ludwigsdorf. At the 2002 census, 85.

Germans of Romania

The Germans of Romania (Rumäniendeutsche; Germanii din România or germani-români; romániai németek) represent one of the most significant historical ethnic minorities of Romania. Throughout the interwar period, the total number of ethnic Germans in this country amounted to as much as 800,000 (according to some sources and estimates dating to 1939, just on the verge of World War II), a figure which has subsequently drastically fallen to 36,000 (according to the 2011 census) and dropped even more to 22,900 (as per the 2021 Romanian census, postponed one year because of the COVID-19 pandemic and conducted in 2022).

Mediaș

Mediaș (ˈmedi.aʃ; Media, Mediasch, Transylvanian Saxon: Medwesch/Medveš/Medwisch, Medgyes) is the second largest town and municipality in Sibiu County, Transylvania, central Romania. Mediaș is located in the middle basin of Târnava Mare River, at from Sighișoara and from Blaj. The health resort Bazna, officially recognized for the first time in 1302, is from Mediaș. The health resort offers mineral water springs, rich in salts, mineral mud and a special type of salt, called "Bazna salt".