ethnic tension
March 11, 2010, 09:38 CET
Over 1,000 stage demo in Bratislava against Slovak act
More than 1,000 people staged a demonstration against the Slovak patriotism act outside the president's palace in Bratislava on Wednesday afternoon. The crowd, mostly comprised of young people, demanded that President Ivan Gasparovic rejects and veto the act that was... [read complete entry]
February 24, 2010, 09:42 CET
Ethnic Hungarians demonstrate for language rights in Slovakia
Around 500 university students demonstrated on Tuesday in the southern Slovakian town of Komarno in defence of their right to use the mother tongue. Students who spoke at the peaceful demonstration in the town with a large ethnic Hungarian population... [read complete entry]
February 23, 2010, 12:07 CET
Slovak PM expresses concerns over losing "special relationship" with Hungary
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has expressed his opinion that a Fidesz electoral victory in April would lead to strained relations between Hungary and Slovakia, mno.hu reports, unlike the status quo which is just peachy. Fico stated that if Fidesz... [read complete entry]
February 11, 2010, 09:52 CET
Hungarian PM meets OSCE Commissioner over Slovak language law
Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai met Knut Vollebaek, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, to discuss Slovakia's amended state language law on Wednesday. Vollebaek arrived in Budapest on Tuesday for talks after meetings on the contested law in Bratislava the previous... [read complete entry]
February 10, 2010, 09:51 CET
OSCE high commissioner pledges to monitor Slovak language law
Knut Vollebaek, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, confirmed in Budapest on Tuesday that he would continue to monitor the implementation of Slovakia's amended state language act. Vollebaek arrived in Budapest on Tuesday after talks in Bratislava on Monday. He... [read complete entry]
February 05, 2010, 10:24 CET
Media under spotlight at human rights conference in Budapest
The segregation of Hungary's Roma community and the role of the media in sustaining prejudices against them were in the focus of a Budapest human rights conference on Thursday. The conference had the aim to assess progress in human rights... [read complete entry]
February 03, 2010, 09:57 CET
Slovak artists ride to rescue of ridiculed Magyar neighbors
Good feelings towards Slovakia today! From the deliciously-named Hungarian-Slovak portal bumm.sk we learn that a trio of young Slovak artists have put together an exhibition of paintings parodying the anti-Magyar ravings of Jan Slota, chairman of Slovak nationalist party... [read complete entry]
February 02, 2010, 10:35 CET
Ombudsman proposes setting up House of Minorities
Hungary's minority ombudsman Erno Kallai on Monday proposed establishing a House of Minorities to halt the assimilation of national and ethnic minorities and protect their cultural assets. A recent survey covering all the 13 officially recognised minorities, showed major shortcomings... [read complete entry]
January 29, 2010, 10:20 CET
Hungary to help victims of Slovak language law
The cabinet will establish a Ft 50 million fund from February 1 to compensate ethnic Hungarians in Slovakia who are fined for using their native language, Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai announced Thursday. The funds will be made available through the... [read complete entry]
January 25, 2010, 09:06 CET
Slovakian public television station refused to air Hungarian debate show
The Slovakian public television station STV refused to air a Hungarian debate, Slovak Hungarian daily Új Szó reports. Leaders of the station explained their decision by saying that the program, called "Terítéken" ("On the Agenda"), was "unbalanced." Of the debate's... [read complete entry]
January 19, 2010, 07:15 CET
Jan Slota "reveals" Hungarian plan to invade Slovakia
As one Slovak commenter to this site has suggested, we secretly love Jan Slota. Well, we don't love him, but we must admit we like him just a little for making our jobs easier by saying idiotic things from time... [read complete entry]
January 11, 2010, 12:55 CET
Hungary claims doing its best to counter anti-Slovak incidents
The Hungarian authorities are sparing no effort to investigate the recent incidents targeted against Slovakia's diplomatic representation and cultural institute in Budapest, the Foreign Ministry told MTI on Friday. The ministry responded to remarks by Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak... [read complete entry]
January 11, 2010, 12:03 CET
FM says EC position supports Hungarian worries over Slovak language law
An evaluation by the legal service of the Secretariat General of the European Commission published on Thursday justifies a number of Hungary's concerns about the implementation guidelines of the contested Slovak state language act, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Balazs told... [read complete entry]
January 07, 2010, 10:47 CET
Hungary Roma council receives "white powder" terror threat
Hungary's national Roma self-government (OCO) received an envelope containing white powder and a threatening message at its central office on Wednesday, an OCO official told MTI. Police are investigating the content of the envelope, which included the text "You can... [read complete entry]
January 06, 2010, 08:10 CET
OSCE high commissioner to visit Hungary over Slovak language law
The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Knut Vollebaek is likely to visit Hungary within the next two months to discuss Slovakia's minority language law, Hungary's Foreign Minister told MTI on Monday. Peter Balazs confirmed news reports that he had... [read complete entry]
January 05, 2010, 10:34 CET
Hungary welcomes OSCE statement on Slovak language law
Hungary welcomes a Monday statement by the High Commissioner on National Minorities of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe concerning OSCE's mediation in the Hungary-Slovakia dispute over the latter's contested language law, the Hungarian Foreign Ministry told MTI.... [read complete entry]
December 30, 2009, 11:07 CET
Ecology, culture seen as key issue dominating President's agenda in '09
The key topics addressed by Hungarian President Laszlo Solyom in 2009, his last full year in office, were the heritage of the 1956 revolution, the relationship between state and "cultural nation" and the necessity of an ecological change, head of... [read complete entry]
December 30, 2009, 10:45 CET
Slovak Foreign Minister expresses regret over tiff with Hungary
The past six months in relations between Hungary and Slovakia were especially hard and unpleasant "and what happened damaged both countries in the eyes of the world," Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcák said in an interview with a Slovak website.... [read complete entry]
December 23, 2009, 09:50 CET
Hungarian FM singles out Slovakia, Ukraine as obstacles to regional harmony
Hungary's diplomatic corps has invested a lot of energy in further developing its ties with neighbouring countries during the past year, Foreign Minister Peter Balazs told MTI on Wednesday. Balazs noted, however, that the nationalistic policies of two countries -... [read complete entry]
December 21, 2009, 10:49 CET
Controversial mayor receives death threat from "Roma Angels"
The mayor of the northeastern Hungarian town of Edeleny, known for his anti-Roma and anti-Semitic remarks, has received another death threat, the local mayor's office told MTI on Thursday. The mayor received a letter from the Roma-Hungarian Chapter of the... [read complete entry]
December 21, 2009, 10:27 CET
Hungary, Ukraine discuss situation of ethnic Hungarians
Hungary's Deputy Foreign Minister Vilmos Szabo held talks with Ukrainian officials on the education of ethnic Hungarians and other issues in Uzhgorod, the seat of Subcarpathia, an Ukrainian region inhabited by many Hungarians, on Friday. Meeting Governor Oleh Havasi, Szabo... [read complete entry]
December 18, 2009, 10:05 CET
MSZP to plead with European Socialists over Slovak language law
Hungary's ruling Socialist party will ask the European Socialist Party's president to launch an investigation of Slovakia's latest steps in connection with its controversial state language law, the party's PM candidate Attila Mesterhazy told MTI on Thursday. Mesterhazy said that... [read complete entry]
December 17, 2009, 10:10 CET
Slovakia breaking deal with Hungary over language law, gov't spokesman says
Slovakia's adopting the guidelines to its controversial state language act on Wednesday is seen as a violation of a recent agreement between the two countries, the spokesman of the Hungarian government told MTI on Wednesday. Domokos Szollar said that the... [read complete entry]
December 17, 2009, 10:09 CET
Hungary ready to turn to European Court over Slovak barring of President
The European Commission agreed with Hungary in so far as Slovakia had mistakenly referred to community guidelines when it denied Hungarian President Laszlo Solyom entry in August, Foreign Affairs Spokeswoman Zsuzsanna Matrai told MTI on Wednesday. President Laszlo Solyom had... [read complete entry]
December 17, 2009, 10:04 CET
Orbán gives speech in Serbia on "re-uniting" of larger Hungarian nation
Viktor Orban, leader of Hungary's main opposition Fidesz party, talked about the importance of efforts to re-unite the Hungarian nation at a rally held in Senta, a city in the north Serbian Vojvodina province, on Wednesday. Hungarians living in Hungary... [read complete entry]
December 16, 2009, 09:35 CET
Supreme Court upholds ban on Magyar Gárda
The Supreme Court dissolved the far-right Magyar Gárda society and movement on Tuesday, upholding an earlier ruling issued by the Budapest Court of Appeals. The prosecutor's office launched a civil lawsuit to have the group dissolved two years ago, arguing... [read complete entry]
December 11, 2009, 09:52 CET
Sólyom welcomes Serbian law on ethnic council
Serbia's new law on ethnic councils, the agencies of ethnic minority government, is an example to be followed, Hungarian President Laszlo Solyom said during a visit to the northern Serbian Vojvodina province on Thursday. "The law is a huge opportunity... [read complete entry]
December 07, 2009, 10:34 CET
Mayor accused of racism left off Fidesz electoral list
Conservative opposition party Fidesz has not included Oszkar Molnar -- a mayor from north Hungary who gained notoriety for his anti-Roma and anti-Semitic remarks -- on its list of candidates for the next parliament, the party's spokesman told Monday's Nepszabadsag... [read complete entry]
December 07, 2009, 10:31 CET
Jobbik denies links to UK group of same name
The Times of London reported in its online edition on Saturday that Hungary's radical nationalist Jobbik party is setting up a branch in London. But the spokesman for the new group denied there was any institutional connection to the Hungarian... [read complete entry]
December 03, 2009, 12:29 CET
Slovak gov't observing agreement with Hungary, foreign minister says
No matter what extremists say in Slovakia, the Slovak-Hungarian declaration approved by the two prime ministers in Szecseny in September is valid and being observed by the Slovak government, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Balazs told MTI on Wednesday. The Hungarian-Slovak... [read complete entry]
December 02, 2009, 09:39 CET
European Court of Human Rights cites Hungary for curbing free speech
Two top Hungarian courts were wrong to order a Hungarian historian to retract an article and pay legal costs after he wrote an article critical of the right-wing media, the European Court of Human Rights said on Tuesday. Laszlo Karsai... [read complete entry]
December 02, 2009, 08:37 CET
Hungary, Croatia discuss improving ethnic education
Hungary's and Croatia's joint committee on ethnic minorities discussed upgrading schools, plans for higher education, as well as the renovation of ecclesiastical properties at a session in Zagreb on Tuesday. The committee focused on assistance for two secondary schools and... [read complete entry]
December 01, 2009, 10:08 CET
Hungarian MPs concerned about Ukraine's policy towards ethnic minority
The Hungarian Parliament on Monday approved a political statement voicing concern over Ukrainian measures discriminating against the ethnic Hungarian minority. The document cautions that "frequent anti-minority expressions" in the Ukrainian media may lead to a deterioration of relations between communities... [read complete entry]
November 25, 2009, 09:10 CET
Council of Europe official in Budapest for talks on Slovak language law
Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly President Lluis Maria de Puig, meeting Hungarian Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai in Budapest on Tuesday, offered to mediate in the Hungarian-Slovak dispute over the new Slovak language law. Bajnai reiterated the Hungarian government's concern over... [read complete entry]
November 25, 2009, 08:41 CET
Magyar Gárda plans to hold commemorative event in Romania
The radical nationalist organization Hungarian Guard is planning to hold an event in Transylvania to mark the 91st anniversary of the formation of The Székely Regiment (Székely Hadosztály), Transylvanian daily Krónika reports. The Székely Regiment was established in Kolozsvár (today's... [read complete entry]
November 23, 2009, 09:02 CET
Bajnai defends police crackdown on far-right groups
Hungary's government makes every effort to secure order and expects the same from the police, Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai said on Saturday. "What happened in Sajobabony last weekend truly demonstrated that incitement to hatred and provocation represent an increasing threat... [read complete entry]
November 20, 2009, 10:48 CET
New left-wing party launched; seen drawing from SZDSZ
A new left-wing party called Free People for Hungary (Szema) made its first public appearance on Wednesday, national daily Nepszava said. Founded in October, Szema aims to offer a genuine choice to left-wing and liberal voters in parliamentary elections next... [read complete entry]
November 20, 2009, 10:42 CET
Foreign Minister meets ethnic Hungarian leaders from region
Foreign Minister Peter Balazs met leaders of ethnic Hungarian communities in neighbouring countries for talks in Budapest on Thursday. Balazs gave them an outline of Hungary's foreign policy tasks and main objectives including policies towards communities of Hungarians living beyond... [read complete entry]
November 19, 2009, 09:26 CET
US Ambassador-designate testifies in Congress, vows help on minority issues
US ambassador candidate to Hungary Eleni Tsakopoulos-Kounalakis said on Wednesday that, if appointed, she would cooperate with the Hungarian government in handling sensitive issues, such as minority rights. Tsakopoulos-Kounalakis addressed a hearing of the Washington senate's foreign affairs committee. The... [read complete entry]
November 18, 2009, 09:23 CET
Secret services head pins responsibility for race riot on far-right
Politicians and supporters of Hungary's far right are responsible for the confrontation at the weekend between local Roma residents and supporters of the radical nationalist Jobbik party and its banned uniformed wing, the Hungarian Guard in Sajobabony (NE), the minister... [read complete entry]
November 16, 2009, 08:48 CET
Ukrainian ambassador summoned over textbooks for ethnic Hungarians
The Foreign Ministry on Friday summoned Ukraine's Ambassador to Hungary to enquire about the lack of Hungarian language textbooks for ethnic Hungarian pupils in west Ukraine, the ministry told MTI in a statement. Senior official at the ministry Jeno Faller... [read complete entry]
November 13, 2009, 09:06 CET
Hungarian MEP proposes post of EU minority rights commissioner
Hungarian MEP Csaba Tabajdi has stressed the need for the European Commission to have a member responsible for fundamental and minority rights. "It is now up to EC President Jose Manuel Barroso to fulfill his promise and set up a... [read complete entry]
November 13, 2009, 09:00 CET
Parliamentary foreign affairs chief meets Romanian counterpart
Zsolt Nemeth, head of the Hungarian Parliament's foreign affairs committee, met his Romanian counterpart Laszlo Borbely in Budapest on Thursday, for talks on energy security, the situation of the Hungarian and Romanian minorities in Ukraine as well as Romania's upcoming... [read complete entry]
November 06, 2009, 11:28 CET
Fidesz, Christian Democrats withdraw bill on Hungarian minorities
Hungary's main opposition Fidesz party and its Christian Democrat ally are withdrawing their bill which sought to ease rules on obtaining citizenship ethnic Hungarians resident abroad, Christian Democrat MP Istvan Simicsko told MTI on Friday. Simicsko explained the withdrawal, claiming... [read complete entry]
November 06, 2009, 09:59 CET
Hungary votes in UN against "Goldstone" report on Israel
In a United Nations General Assembly vote on Thursday, Hungary voted to reject the Goldstone Report, which urged Israel and the Palestinians to investigate war crimes allegedly committed during the Gaza conflict almost a year ago, Hungary's UN Ambassador Gabor... [read complete entry]
November 04, 2009, 09:52 CET
Bajnai welcomes Czech court ruling clearing way for Lisbon Treaty adoption
Hungarian Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai welcomed the Tuesday ruling of the Czech Constitutional Court, which declared the Lisbon Treaty compatible with the Czech Constitution, the Hungarian Government Spokesman's Office told MTI. "The Czech Constitutional Court's ruling is good news for... [read complete entry]
November 04, 2009, 09:48 CET
Hungary, Slovak FM discuss 11-point "action plan" for improving ties
The foreign ministers of Hungary and Slovakia agreed at a meeting on Tuesday that a joint action plan for amending ties between their countries had been successfully implemented. Miroslav Lajcak of Slovakia and Peter Balazs of Hungary met in Banska... [read complete entry]
November 04, 2009, 09:05 CET
Polish minority supports countryside mayor accused of xenophobia
The National Polish Minority Self-government of Hungary supports the mayor of Edeleny (NE Hungary) and asks the town's local government not to take sanctions against him, a letter sent by the Polish council's president to the local council of Edeleny... [read complete entry]
November 03, 2009, 01:27 CET
Owner of Kuruc.info revealed to be owner of gay nightclub in Tel Aviv
Just kidding, but don't tell anyone at Hungary's leading far-right portal, because they might end up thinking it's true and printing it on page one! Here's why: According to the folks at the Reakció Blog, they recently submitted a... [read complete entry]
November 03, 2009, 11:04 CET
Foreign ministers of Hungary and Slovakia in talks Tuesday
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Balazs will hold a working meeting with Slovak counterpart Miroslav Lajcak on Tuesday, the Slovak ministry spokesman said on Monday. The ministers will first meet on the Hungarian side of the border in Rarospuszta to place... [read complete entry]
November 03, 2009, 11:02 CET
Socialists call for multi-party talks on Hungarian citizenship
Hungary's ruling Socialist party has called a four-party meeting to discuss an opposition bill on citizenship for Hungarians living beyond the borders, the party's parliamentary group leader told MTI on Monday. Attila Mesterhazy said his party supported the idea of... [read complete entry]
November 02, 2009, 09:42 CET
Christian Democrats join chorus against Czech opt-out from EU charter
The promise of granting the Czech Republic an opt-out from the European Union's Charter of Fundamental Rights can be interpreted as confirmation that the post-WWII Benes decrees would remain in place, Zsolt Semjen, head of the Christian Democratic People's Party,... [read complete entry]
October 30, 2009, 11:15 CET
Orbán cautions EU against giving way to Czech "blackmail" on Lisbon treaty
Viktor Orban, head of Hungary's main opposition Fidesz, cautioned the European Union against giving way to what he called "the blackmailing by the Czech president" and called on the Hungarian government not to accept any concession as a result on... [read complete entry]
October 28, 2009, 09:47 CET
Socialists say they back dual citizenship for ethnic Hungarians abroad
The ruling Socialist party supports the idea of easing conditions for ethnic Hungarians who wish to apply of dual citizenship, people close to the discussions told MTI on condition of anonymity. The opposition Fidesz-Christian Democratic alliance submitted a bill on... [read complete entry]
October 28, 2009, 08:50 CET
Debate continues over appropriate questions for 2011 census
Hungary's ruling Socialists will consider President Laszlo Solyom's suggestions regarding the 2011 census, but will not support the inclusion of questions on faith, a Socialist official told Wednesday's Nepszabadsag daily. Valeria Deak Fogarasi, deputy chairwoman of the parliamentary committee for... [read complete entry]
October 27, 2009, 05:37 CET
Hungary wants out after Slovakia wants in on Czech amendmant to Lisbon Treaty
An MTI piece earlier today stated how Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Balázs wasn't exactly ecstatic about Czech President Václav Klaus's attempt to amend the Lisbon Treaty. What that piece was unclear about, however, was that Balázs's opposition to the treaty... [read complete entry]
October 21, 2009, 09:44 CET
Parliamentary committee chief urges keeping pressure on Slovaks
Hungary enjoys international support in the dispute over Slovakia's language law, the head of Hungary's foreign affairs parliamentary committee said in Washington on Tuesday. "Slovakia must be kept under serious pressure," Zsolt Nemeth told local Hungarians in the Kossuth House... [read complete entry]
October 21, 2009, 08:38 CET
Hundreds demonstrate on behalf of mayor accused of racism
Over 500 people gathered on the main square of Edeleny, a town in northern Hungary, on Tuesday for a demonstration organised by the local branch of main conservative opposition Fidesz in support of Oszkar Molnar, the controversial mayor and Fidesz... [read complete entry]
October 20, 2009, 07:00 CET
Slovakian authority launches investigation over language law violation
The Slovakian Commerce Authority has launched an investigation into advertisements by the Slovakia-based Hungarian-language Szabad Újság newspaper, which only feature the Hungarian language on its billboards, index.hu reports. An investigation will be conducted to see if these advertisements are in... [read complete entry]
October 19, 2009, 02:46 CET
Wall Street Journal writers beware: Fidesz going to win 2010 elections no matter what
Just saw a piece go up over on the Wall Street Journal's "New Europe" blog with a rather combustible headline: "Gypsies, Jews, Homosexuals Beware: Fidesz Eyes 2010 Elections". The nut graph is as follows: If Fidesz cracks down on extreme... [read complete entry]
October 19, 2009, 09:32 CET
Fidesz submits motion to ease dual citizenship for ethnic Hungarians
The opposition has submitted a motion to Parliament to help ethnic Hungarians obtain Hungarian citizenship more easily. The motion submitted by Christian Democrats Zsolt Semjén and István Simicskó, as well as Fidesz MP Zsolt Németh, would abolish the pre-condition that... [read complete entry]
October 15, 2009, 11:36 CET
Civic group to hold candlelight demo against hate speech at Fidesz HQ
Hungary's Democratic Network will hold a quiet, candlelight protest against hate speech in front of headquarters of the main opposition Fidesz party on Thursday, the group told MTI in a letter. The protest, which will also mark the anniversary of... [read complete entry]
October 15, 2009, 11:17 CET
EC declines to intervene in affair over Slovak barring of Hungarian president
Vice President of the European Commission responsible for Justice, Freedom and Security Jacques Barrot said on Wednesday that he considered the affair of Slovakia refusing to allow Hungarian President Laszlo Solyom to enter the country closed. "This is a bilateral... [read complete entry]
October 14, 2009, 09:51 CET
Anti-Semitism, racism marring Hungarian politics, Jewish leader tells CoE
The head of Hungary's federation of Jewish organisations Mazsihisz, Peter Feldmajer, met the Council of Europe's human rights commissioner, Thomas Hammarberg, on Tuesday and briefed him on what he called disturbing signs of racism and anti-Semitism in today's Hungary. Mazsihisz... [read complete entry]
October 14, 2009, 09:45 CET
European human rights commissioner visits Hungary
The Council of Europe's human rights commissioner visited Hungary on Tuesday and met Erno Kallai, Hungary's minority rights ombudsman and other senior officials to review the situation of the country's Roma. Thomas Hammarberg is on a fact-finding mission to examining... [read complete entry]
October 13, 2009, 03:35 CET
Slovak politicians respond to Pataki's statement on language law
Following former New York Governor George Pataki's denunciation of Slovakia's language law, via the Wall Street Journal, we've learned that: [Slovakian] Prime Minister [Robert] Fico considers it unprofessional and politically incorrect that an American politician, George Pataki of Hungarian-Italian-Irish origin,... [read complete entry]
October 13, 2009, 11:18 CET
Ethnic Hungarians in Serbia turn to Hungary over new minorities law
Political parties and civil groups representing ethnic Hungarians in northern Serbia have turned to the Hungarian president and Hungarian MEPs with sharp criticism of a law on national minority councils recently adopted in Serbia. In their open letter, published to... [read complete entry]
October 12, 2009, 10:53 CET
George Pataki denounces language law during Slovakia visit
Former New York Governor George Pataki, who unlike White House Budget director Peter Orszag regularly mentions his Hungarian roots, made a stop over in Slovakia earlier today to attend a university conference in Komárno, mno.hu reports. At the conference, Pataki,... [read complete entry]
October 08, 2009, 11:20 CET
Canada calls for measures on Hungarian asylum-seekers
The Canadian government has called on Hungary to take measures to reduce the number of Hungarian asylum-seekers, Canadian news agency Canwest News Service reported on Wednesday. According to the report, Canada's airports have been flooded by an unexpectedly large number... [read complete entry]
October 08, 2009, 10:22 CET
Slovak nationalists initiate procedure to ban party of ethnic Hungarians
The Slovak National Party (SNS) has initiated a procedure to ban the Party of the Hungarian Coalition (MKP) with Slovakia's prosecutor general and will propose the withdrawal of its MPs' mandates to the Bratislava parliament, SNS president Ján Slota announced... [read complete entry]
October 06, 2009, 09:29 CET
Slovak nationalists demand ethnic Hungarian politician apologize in Slovak
The Slovak National Party (SNP) has asked for an enforcement order to compel Hungarian Coalition Party (MKP) deputy chairman Miklós Duray to reissue his apology in the Slovak language, and not in Hungarian as he did. Duray described SNP as... [read complete entry]
October 05, 2009, 10:55 CET
Mayor embroiled in furor over Roma claim unrepentant, vows to sue
The local mayor who has accused Roma women in his town of intentionally harming their unborn babies in order to secure extra child benefits told MTI on Sunday that he stood by his view, and vowed to launch a legal... [read complete entry]
October 05, 2009, 10:06 CET
Roma campaigner to lead march on Budapest
Roma rights activist László Kállai is walking from Jászladány, central Hungary to Budapest in protest against "the destructive discrimination of Roma". Kállai said he wants to arrive at Heroes' Square next Sunday at the head of thousands of demonstrators, with... [read complete entry]
October 02, 2009, 10:56 CET
PM urges further push to integrate Roma
Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai stressed the importance of integrating Roma into society yesterday as he addressed an economic conference in Budapest. Speaking at the event organised by economic institute Pénzügykutató and CIB Bank, Bajnai called the integration of Roma one... [read complete entry]
September 29, 2009, 10:33 CET
Six Hungarian and Slovak towns sign cooperation pact
Three cities from Hungary and three from Slovakia on Monday signed a founding agreement on forming a cooperation group, the mayor of Tata, one of the Hungarian towns participating, told MTI. Jozsef Michl said the initiative will be directed by... [read complete entry]
September 28, 2009, 12:08 CET
Magyar Gárda marches on Roma ghetto
Some 80 to 100 people, most of them in the uniform of outlawed far-right militia the Magyar Gárda, marched to a house in the Roma ghetto in Kiskunlacháza early Saturday. The following day it was reported that a Roma person... [read complete entry]
September 28, 2009, 10:03 CET
Education minister slams Slovak language law
Slovakia's language law is an affront to Europe's diversity and weakens joint European consciousness; for these reasons every opportunity should be taken to speak against the law, which prohibits the development of Europe's identity, Istvan Hiller, Hungary's education minister told... [read complete entry]
September 28, 2009, 09:29 CET
Christian Democrats to cooperate with Roma group in preparing election program
Conservative opposition party Christian Democrats (KDNP) will cooperate with the Roma College in preparing the party's election programme, a party spokeswoman said on Friday. Zsuzsa Halasz welcomed Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai's recent announcement on plans to employ 200 new Roma... [read complete entry]
September 24, 2009, 09:27 CET
Hungary joins UN walkout during Iranian president's speech
Hungary's delegation at the United Nations General Assembly was among the majority of representatives of European Union member states, plus Canada, US and Israel to stage a walkout during the speech of Mahmud Ahmadinejad, Iran's president. Delegates walked out when... [read complete entry]
September 21, 2009, 10:33 CET
President says politicians' "hysteria" not harming Hungarian-Slovak cooperation
Disputes of "big politics" has not affected cross-border cooperation between Hungarian and Slovak towns along the two countries' borders, Hungarian President Laszlo Solyom said in Ipolytarnoc, near the border, on Sunday. "The outbreak of hysteria among political leaders has not... [read complete entry]
September 17, 2009, 11:35 CET
Foreign Minister says Slovakia Hungary's only problematic neighbor
Hungarian diplomacy had a hot summer this year because of Slovakia, Hungary's only problematic neighbour, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Balazs told a news conference in Budapest on Wednesday. The minister referred to the enactment of a controversial amendment to Slovakia's... [read complete entry]
September 16, 2009, 09:56 CET
EP head's offer to mediate Hungary-Slovakia feud called historic
Hungarian MEP Csaba Tabajdi has welcomed that the new president of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek, on Tuesday expressed readiness to mediate in settling Hungarian-Slovak tensions. Tabajdi said the Buzek was ready to help settle the conflict that has developed... [read complete entry]
September 16, 2009, 09:50 CET
Minority ombudsman briefs parliament on abuses
Minority Ombudsman Erno Kallai noted instances of misconduct and possible misuse of funding by minority institutions in his report on his office's activities in 2008 to a Parliamentary committee on Tuesday. Briefing the human rights, minority, civilian and religious affairs... [read complete entry]
September 16, 2009, 09:49 CET
OSCE official says Slovak law not necessarily outside European norms
Slovakia's recently adopted language law amendment does not necessarily contravene international or European norms, Knut Vollebaek, the OSCE's minority commissioner told a news conference in Budapest on Tuesday. Vollebaek, High Commissioner on National Minorities of the Organization for Security and... [read complete entry]
September 15, 2009, 10:53 CET
EC unable to criticize Slovak language law, commission official says
The European Commission has no legal grounds to criticise Slovakia's new language law, Leonard Orban, EC Commissioner for Multilinguism, said in a response to a Hungarian query, cited by Tuesday's Nepszabadsag daily. The EU has no ground to launch procedures... [read complete entry]
September 15, 2009, 09:52 CET
Roma intellectuals demonstrate against minority leadership
About 150 people led by the New Roma Unity Party demonstrated outside the MPs office building yesterday, demanding new representation for Gypsies and the immediate dismissal of the present Roma leadership. Béla Szojka, head of the party, called on Socialist... [read complete entry]
September 14, 2009, 11:00 CET
Gov't says both sides winners in Hungary-Slovakia summit
The fact that Hungary considers the Hungarian-Slovak prime ministerial meeting a success does not mean that Slovakia should perceive it as a failure, the government spokesman told MTI on Sunday. Domokos Szollar said that in the current situation the Thursday... [read complete entry]
September 14, 2009, 10:52 CET
Roma women file defamation suit against mayor
Close to 400 Roma women have initiated legal proceedings against Oszkar Molnar, an MP of the opposition Fidesz party and mayor of Edeleny (NE Hungary), over his "defamatory remarks" on Roma women, a local Roma leader told MTI on Friday.... [read complete entry]
September 14, 2009, 09:47 CET
Bajnai announces new EU-backed Roma initiative
Nearly 200 Roma with university degrees will be admitted to work in public administration with their salaries to be initially paid by an EU project, Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai said in an interview with Népszabadság. The government will also begin... [read complete entry]
September 11, 2009, 11:47 CET
Hungarian, Slovak leaders meet in bid to re-establish normal relations
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico did not apologise for his country's refusal to admit President László Sólyom on August 21 and offered no concessions on the controversial new language law during his meeting with Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai on Thursday.... [read complete entry]
September 11, 2009, 11:40 CET
EU measures against Slovakia no substitute for strong Hungary, Orbán says
A lengthy EU legal procedure is no substitute for an unequivocal and dynamic Hungarian answer based on national interests, Fidesz chairman Viktor Orbán declared yesterday in discussing the Hungarian-Slovak conflict. There is no doubt that the conflict has a European... [read complete entry]
September 09, 2009, 11:15 CET
MSZP aims to target Roma electorate - without losing "racist voters"
In a move sure to generate controversy and indignation for various reasons, the governing MSZP has prepared a cynical 13-page study on how to win as many Roma voters as possible at the general elections next year, writes Népszabadság, who... [read complete entry]
September 09, 2009, 10:56 CET
Hungarian officials deny meeting planned with Slovak President
Until Slovakia gives a response to a request for an explanation of its treatment of President Laszlo Solyom, it would be untimely to enter into discussions about a meeting between the presidents of the two countries, the head of the... [read complete entry]
September 09, 2009, 10:27 CET
Fidesz under pressure over remarks about unborn Roma children
Instead of a conspiracy of silence in the case of an MP who claimed Roma women deliberately harmed their unborn children in order to receive higher state benefits, the leadership of main opposition Fidesz should take steps which are conversant... [read complete entry]
September 09, 2009, 09:40 CET
EU justice commissioner sides with Hungary over Slovak language law
The EU's justice commissioner is sympathetic to Hungary's view of the Slovak language law and shares Hungary's opinion of it in a number of respects, Foreign Minister Peter Balazs told Hungarian journalists after talks with Jacques Barrot. "I asked him,... [read complete entry]
September 03, 2009, 09:48 CET
Slovak Foreign Minister hints at fraught meeting
The meeting between Slovak prime minister Robert Fico and his Hungarian counterpart Gordon Bajnai "will not be simple, because both parties want to say many things to the other,” Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcák said in a statement after a... [read complete entry]
September 01, 2009, 11:59 CET
High Commissioner defends Slovak language law
Slovakia's amended language law to come into effect on September 1 conforms to international norms, as confirmed by OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Knut Vollebaek, the Slovak ambassador said in Budapest on Monday. The amendment is compatible with the... [read complete entry]
September 01, 2009, 10:17 CET
Slovak language law brought to attention of White House
Ferenc Koszorus, co-chairman of the American-Hungarian Federation, informed senior foreign policy-makers of the US Administration about the Slovak State Language Act in Washington this week, he told MTI on Saturday. Calling the law "inacceptable and discriminative", the American Hungarian leader... [read complete entry]
August 31, 2009, 10:05 CET
Ethnic Hungarian leaders call for revision of Slovak language law
Participants in an ecumenical meeting in the cathedral of Szeged, S Hungary, on Sunday called upon "Slovakia's post-communist government to reconsider and withdraw its State Language Act", which is to come into force on September 1. In a joint statement,... [read complete entry]
August 31, 2009, 09:57 CET
Bajnai and Fico to hold clear-the-air talks
Foreign Minister Péter Balász agreed with his Slovak counterpart Miroslav Lajcák on Sunday to set up a meeting between Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai and Slovak premier Robert Fico, and formulated proposals to resolve the current problems between the two countries.... [read complete entry]
Published every Wednesday, the Politics Hungary newsletter contains all the previous week's headlines from Politics.hu, as well as related stories from other All Hungary sites.