ABSTRACT: In this interview, reported by Dorin Popa, Vasile Diacon, former MP of the National Salvation Front and member of the Transnational Radical Party's General Council, explains the themes addressed by the Rome Congress and the nature of this transnational political instrument.

(Monitorul, Iasi, Friday 7 May 1883)

QUESTION: Could you explain our readers what are the objectives of this party?

ANSWER: The Radical Party originated in Italy as a necessity stemming from the political turmoil of the nations of the old continent, as an alternative to the rigid patterns of the national parties, as a movement engaged in transforming and changing European citizens' mentality, advocating a greater integration between the West and the East. It is a political movement which has taken a very strong commitment towards fighting violence of all kinds, using all the weapons of non-violence. This explains why the symbol of our party is the image of the Indian philosopher Gandhi, the person who promoted non-violence to the status of political principle, justifying it on philosophical bases.

The Transnational Radical Party is the only political movement that excludes party discipline, where decisions taken are not binding for its members, apart from those of them who accept official positions, where the behaviour of a member cannot be punished and where members cannot be expelled. All this is based on a free commitment by every member and on an absolute tolerance. The transnational nature of the Party has determined the lack of competition with the national parties and the absence of forms of regulation on national or regional bases.

The directions in which the party operates are manifold: a Treaty of Maastricht not just for EC citizens, but for the entire continent, with the aim of creating a United States of Europe, fighting against prohibition on drugs, against party power, against militarism, for the promotion of Esperanto as a language of international communication; the environmental issue, with the development of certain initiatives at the regional and European level.

Q: I know you participated in the last congress of the Transnational Radical Party in Rome, this year. What essential things did it bring up?

A: The problems mentioned during the congress were countless. The simple list of the commission whereby initiatives have been taken is self-explanatory as to the scope of the debate.

1. Federalism and nationality; civil and political rights, minorities' rights, linguistic minorities;

2. World-wide parliamentary campaign for the abolition of the death penalty by the Year 2000;

3. Democratic, human and environmental development;

4. New rules in relation to prohibition on drugs;

5. The new international law, peace and security and, furthermore, discussions in the plenary assembly on the future of the party.

Q: What differences are there between the Transnational Radical Party and the Party of European Socialists?

A: The Party of European Socialists, created in The Hague on 10 November 1992, while suggesting a sort of transnational dimension, stemming from the desire to enhance its influence in the future of the European Community, is unfortunately a "closed" party, because it is addressed to the Socialists. The Transnational Radical Party instead already counts members from 80 countries coming from all parts of the world.

Q: How strongly is the Transnational Radical Party represented in Romania?

A: Among the members of the Transnational Radical Party there are former MPs and MPs in office, representatives of the FSDN (Democratic National Salvation Front), FSN (National Salvation Front), PUNR (Party of Rumanian National Union), PRM (Party of the Great Rumania), UDMR (Democratic Union of the Hungarians of Rumania), PAC (Civic Alliance Party), PNT (Peasant National Party), MER (environmental movement), PER (Environmental Party). PDAR (Agrarian Democratic Party), PR (Republican Party). members of the government, party leaders, representatives of the minorities, various personalities of the cultural and scientific world, etc., who have understood the importance for Rumania of their presence in this new international body. Together they represent a voice with which to achieve a grandiose lobby.

Q: But how does this political formation feel in the Rumanian environment?

A: As I mentioned above, in Rumania there are party leadership bodies, nor leaders, which is in any case forbidden by the statute. All the actions of the organizers in Rumania are carried out with the logistic support of the headquarters in Rome. It is worth mentioning the radicals' meeting which took place at the end of June 1992 in Poiana-Brassov, during which a declaration-appeal was passed concerning the situation of the Republic of Moldavia, and which condemned the intervention of the 14th Soviet Army in this Republic.

On 15 May 1993 the meeting of the Rumanian radicals will take place in Bucharest, with Mr. Stanzani, an important representatives of the Radical Party. The meeting will be open to all those who want to gather information on the activity of this party. We invite all readers to participate and eventually explain their point of view on the mode of action of this political formation.