New Generation Party
New Generation Party – Christian Democratic | |
|---|---|
 | |
| President | Gigi Becali |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Headquarters | Blănari Street, Bucharest, Romania |
| Ideology |
Romanian nationalism, Right-wing populism,[1] Christian right |
| European affiliation | None |
| International affiliation | None |
| Colours | Green, white, and light blue |
| Seats in the Senate | 0 |
| Seats in the Chamber | 0 |
| Seats in the European Parliament | 1 |
| Website | |
| www.png.ro | |
The New Generation Party – Christian Democratic (Partidul Noua Generație - Creștin Democrat, PNGCD; formerly Partidul Noua Generație, PNG) is a nationalist political party in Romania.
Created in 2000 as a centrist grouping around former Mayor of Bucharest Viorel Lis, it was taken over in January 2004 by businessman Gigi Becali (owner of FC Steaua București), who became its leader. Its ideology has since changed to extreme nationalism and Orthodox Christianity.[2] Since then, it has pursued a radically nationalistic, xenophobic and homophobic scheme.[3] In the 2004 legislative elections, PNG won 2.2% of the popular vote but no seats in the Chamber of Deputies and Senate.
For the 2009 European Parliament election, the PNGCD forged an electoral alliance with the far-right Greater Romania Party (PRM). PNGCD leader Becali was elected member of the European Parliament on the PRM list. The party's ideology under Becali's leadership is close to the one of the pre-war fascist Iron Guard (or "Legionary Movement"). It fuses nationalist mythology with Christian Orthodox conservatism.[2] Becali is a self-declared follower of the Legionary Movement.[3] The Romanian National Council for Combating Discrimination has repeatedly charged Becali with homophobic, sexist and discriminatory statements against Romani and other ethnic minorities.[2] The United States Department of State has described the New Generation Party as an "extreme nationalist party" and noted the party's use of a slogan of the 1930s anti-Semitic Legionary Movement.[4]
Notable members
- Dan Pavel - executive president, former advisor of Gigi Becali, political science professor.
- Alex Mihai Stoenescu - vice president, historian.
- Marian Oprea - vice president, talk-show host (on DDTV) and owner of Lumea (international politics magazine).
References
- ↑ Berend, Ivan T. (2010), Europe Since 1980, Cambridge University Press, p. 134
- 1 2 3 Cinpoeș, Radu (October 2012), The Extreme Right in Contemporary Romania, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, p. 6
- 1 2 Stefan, Adina Marina (2009), Democratization and Securitization: The Case of Romania, Brill, p. 108
- ↑ International Religious Freedom Report 2006, US Department of State
