{"id":1046151,"date":"2019-04-07T02:17:28","date_gmt":"2019-04-07T06:17:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bocskairadio.org\/?p=1046151"},"modified":"2019-04-07T02:17:28","modified_gmt":"2019-04-07T06:17:28","slug":"slovakian-anthem-ban-angers-hungarian-parties-govt-remains-calm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bocskairadio.org\/en\/slovakian-anthem-ban-angers-hungarian-parties-govt-remains-calm\/","title":{"rendered":"Slovakian Anthem Ban Angers Hungarian Parties, Govt Remains Calm"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the wake of the\u00a0new Slovakian law<\/a>\u00a0that takes target at the local Hungarian minority, domestic parties share anger and frustration. Despite its often fiery communication, the governing alliance remained calm in its response.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Although the amendment bans all national hymns, it is clear that it is aimed at Hungarians. After all, Hungarians are Slovakia\u2019s biggest minority and far-right SNS\u2019 former Slovak national footballer MP, Du\u0161an Tittel, admitted in the Parliamentary debate that the singing done by DAC\u2019s Hungarian fans ahead of kick-off was the main motivator.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, one of the other presenters, Tibor Jancula, played football both for DAC and Ferencv\u00e1ros.<\/p>\n

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FC DAC 1904 based in Dunaszerdahely (Dunajsk\u00e1 Streda) has recently become the Hungarian minority’s number one club and is famous for its heated atmosphere and large fanbase consisting primarily of Hungarians. The club begins each game by singing the Hungarian hymn and other Hungarian songs. A number of government-linked firms sponsor the team, and DAC’s owner Oszk\u00e1r Vil\u00e1gi, a local Hungarian businessman, is a known ally of Viktor Orb\u00e1n. Several government officials regularly visit DAC’s games as well.
\nThis is not the first time the club has found itself in the buffer zone of politics and tension. In 2008, in a match between DAC and Slovakia’s most popular club, Slovan, the Slovakian police stormed the sector seating fans arrived from Hungary and proceeded to assault them. A law was passed in 2014 prohibiting the use of flags and other foreign public symbols in sporting events, and many believed it to be politically motivated.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Fidesz is careful this time<\/strong><\/p>\n

At his regular press briefing on Thursday, PMO chief Gergely Guly\u00e1s called the law \u201cunacceptable\u201d and promised the Foreign Ministry would take legal action. P\u00e9ter Szijj\u00e1rt\u00f3, however, responded in a much cooler tone. During his official trip to the US, the Foreign Minister met Slovak counterpart Miroslav Laj\u010d\u00e1k. After the talks, he declared that \u201cHungarian-Slovak relations should be based on mutual respect\u201d and promised that \u201cthe ethnic Hungarian community would be an asset in the process.\u201d<\/p>\n

Szijj\u00e1rt\u00f3 also claimed to have discussed the issue with several leaders of local Hungarian, or partly Hungarian, parties: \u201cwe shall stay informed, watch upcoming events carefully and examine the legal ramifications; to our knowledge, a satisfying solution may be close by.\u201d However, he has not cited any specific steps or actions to be taken in the matter.<\/p>\n

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Szijj\u00e1rt\u00f3 speaking with Laj\u010d\u00e1k in Washington. Image by MTI\/KKM\/Mitko Sztojcsev<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Jobbik, LMP and Momentum demonstrate together<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jobbik, Hungary\u2019s strongest opposition party, has called on the government to freeze bilateral relations with Slovakia until the country guarantees withdrawal of the law, arguing that it is not only \u201crevolting and unacceptable,\u201d but also \u201ca slap in the face\u201d for the Visegrad cooperation.<\/p>\n

LMP and Momentum also joined in the demo held at the Slovak embassy yesterday. LMP believes this legislation is scandalous and in conflict with European values. The green opposition party promised to take legal steps as well and plans to turn to the Council of Europe.<\/p>\n

Leftists are also enraged<\/strong><\/p>\n

Democratic Coalition spox S\u00e1ndor R\u00f3nai claimed that \u201ceveryone should sing the anthem that he or she wants\u201d and said that \u201claws like this only serve to cause tension.\u201d He noted that it is telling that those who voted against the amendment were previously labeled \u2018Soros agents\u2019 by pro-government media.<\/p>\n

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Image by Jobbik IT- Facebook<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

According to P\u00e1rbesz\u00e9d MEP Benedek J\u00e1vor, the law violates European fundamental rights and values. In addition, MSZP claimed it contacted the largest Slovakian governing party, the leftist Smer party, \u201cdemanding answers.\u201d<\/p>\n

DAC\u2019s owner resists<\/strong><\/p>\n

Oszk\u00e1r Vil\u00e1gi claimed that \u201cnational consciousness should not be built at the expense of others,\u201d and said that \u201cthe singing of the Hungarian anthem cannot be prevented in this way.\u201d In case the law does not change, they are ready to pay the fine, he insisted.<\/p>\n

The social-liberal Progres\u00edvne Slovensko (PS) is the only party that voted against the amendment. Interestingly, the party\u2019s politicians were previously labeled by pro-Fidesz media as \u2018Soros agents.\u2019 In a statement, PS explained that \u201cfor Hungarians living in Slovakia, singing the anthem is an extremely important (\u2026) an integral part of their culture, which is now crowded with legislation (\u2026) Such issues should be handled with great care and sensitivity in a way that respects each other\u2019s cultures. This SNS-like nationalism should be a thing of the past.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tibor Bastrn\u00e1k, the group leader of Most-H\u00edd, a junior governing party whose membership is mixed, apologized for what he referred to as a mistake. The party\u2019s Hungarian MPs voted for the new law, eliciting an excuse from Bastrn\u00e1k that \u201can error occurred.\u201d He explained that an earlier version had not contained the amendment, and when it was introduced by SNS, the party\u2019s MPs were not present.<\/p>\n