Slovakia, Hungary: New Slovak Language Law

Hungarian Spectrum writes about the new Slovak language law and reviews Hungarian reactions: “Is this a new effort to fuel nationalism despite, or perhaps because of, membership in the EU?”

4 comments

  • Zoltan Ban

    The Slovak government is simply doing what it wished to do, but it could not while they were a candidate country for E.U membership. Now that they have been accepted, they figure it is open season on targetting rights of the minorities, especially Hungarians.

    Beautiful part about this is that they may actually get away with this, since most E.U politicians do not really understand the full ramifications of such a law being implemented. First of all, this will surely lead to a rise in extremism across the region. Romanians may also decide to trample on the rights of the Hungarians in Transylvania. That in turn will lead to rise of extreme right in Hungary, and maybe even violent confrontation started by a revolt of ethnic Hungarian minority in any of these countries, because they are sick of being treated like a door mat by countries that were given Hungarian lands and people as a gift aftwer 1918.

    If this will happen, it will be a real shame, for both the people in the region, who should have learned from the way that the Yugoslav conflict unfolded, and for the E.U as a whole, because it will also have to deal with the consequences of instability within its borders.

  • Frank Dezsenyi

    Zoltan Ban’s comments are very true and to the point. Particularly his reference to the “gifts” of land. Eastern Europe has been a most horrofic trampling ground for all ethnics in that area. The Slovak law is a disgrace to their membership of the EU and will give rise to unwanted ethnic tension. As a Hungarian/Slovak I am saddened by the Slovak governments obvious lack of intelligence to appreciate the finer points of living together. Or is it “get back” time?

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