CatalàEnglish Site map Back to main page

An Hungarian government's initiative has raised the alarm of most of Hungary's neighbouring states, particularly Slovakia. Both countries have a recent record of diplomatic confrontations over minority issues. The centre-right party Fidesz, in power since April, has proposed to grant Hungarian citizenship to Magyar minorities living in countries which had been formerly part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire: not only Romania, Ukrania, Serbia and Slovakia but also Croatia, Austria and Slovenia.

According to Politics.Hu, the Hungarian passport would be available "to anyone descendant of a Hungarian citizen, with a free criminal record and proven knowledge of the Hungarian language.

The measure is deemed as a symbolic step towards a "Great Hungary" aspiring to recover its "lost" territories after the Trianon Treaty, which put an end to the Hungarian Empire. Several observers believe that the initiative is a government concession to Jobbik, the Hungarian ultra-nationalist and far-right party that is pushing for a revision of the Trianon Treaty. Jobbik (the Movement for a Better Hungary) grew to currently become the country's third party in the last elections, with 17% of the vote.

The initiative, which was submitted to Parliament yesterday, has been rapidly contested by the government of Slovakia. The country's Prime Minister Robert Fico said that "Slovakia will use all diplomatic efforts and standard proceedings" to stop the dual citizenship bill. According to Sktoday.com, "Slovak Parliamentary Chairman Pavol Paska said that the ceremonial parliamentary session that should mark the end of the electoral term won't take place on Wednesday so that Parliament can remain alert and take possible legislative steps via fast-tracked legislative proceedings".

Confrontation between the two countries comes as no surprise. Last year tension mounted due to Slovakia's State Language Act, which restricted the use of non-Slovak languages and therefore affected the large Hungarian minority within Slovakia -520.528 people, 9.7% of the population. Hungarians are also a large ethnic group in the Serbian province of Vojvodina and several Transylvanian counties in Romania.

Picture: Hungarians in Slovakia: 50-100% in red, 10-50% in yellow, 0-10% in blue (Wikipedia).

Further information:

• Waz.EuObserver.com: Slovakia incensed at Hungarian double citizenship plan
• B92: Hungary: Hints of "Greater Hungary"
• RSI: Slovakia Prepares a Response to Hungarian Dual Citizenship Initiative
• Tribuna.cat: Hongria donarà passaport a les minories hongareses de l'exterior
• Nationalia: Hungarians from Slovakia rally against new language law, Hungarians protest a controversial amendment to the Slovak State Language Act and The issue of minorities worsens relationships between Hungary and Slovakia.