2009-07-15

On 30 June, the parliament of Slovakia passed an amendment to the act on protection of the national language. Bratislava's decision in Budapest's opinion seriously threatens national minorities' rights in Slovakia, where people of Hungarian origin constitute approximately 10% of society. This caused a further escalation of tension between the countries, which resulted in the cancellation of the Slovakian prime minister's visit to Hungary. The prospects of dispute mitigation are faint due to a radicalization of social moods in Hungary and due to the fact that Slovakian authorities are exploiting the issue of the Hungarian minority in their internal policy.

The amended act strengthens the role of Slovakian e.g. in local government administration, the education system, also in areas where the Hungarian minority constitutes a high percentage. The act orders priority use of Slovakian in contacts with public institutions with fines possible (up to € 5000), the use of Slovakian geographical names and street names. At the same time many provisions of the act are imprecise, which allows for free interpretation. The parliament's decision was met with firm objection by the Hungarian minority backed by the government of Hungary, all Hungarian political parties and church organizations; the new act was described as contradictory to bilateral understandings and international obligations.

Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico argued that the act was indispensible due to the increased threat of Hungarian irredentism and striving for autonomy in Slovakia. Support for such actions can be seen first of all in Hungary itself, where one can observe the activation of radical groups (growing support for extreme right-wing Jobbik, the popularity of the paramilitary chauvinist organization called the Hungarian Guard). <boc>

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