The Hungarian Minority in The Hungarian Minority in SlovakiaSlovakia

From History to PresentFrom History to Present

by Vladimir Kacerby Vladimir Kacer

Hungarians in SlovakiaHungarians in Slovakia

Source: Hungarian Minorities Abroad (http://www.htmh.hu/en/?menuid=0405)

StatisticsStatistics

Source: Hungarian Minorities Abroad (http://www.htmh.hu/en/?menuid=0405)

Under the Hapsburg Empire and later under Austria-Hungary, the Under the Hapsburg Empire and later under Austria-Hungary, the Magyars, or ethnic Hungarians, dominated the numerous nationalities Magyars, or ethnic Hungarians, dominated the numerous nationalities around themaround them

--As from 1867 to the end of the first World War in 1918 they engaged in doctrine As from 1867 to the end of the first World War in 1918 they engaged in doctrine of cultural genocide. of cultural genocide.

-Countless Croats, Rumanians, Serbs, Slovaks, Slovenes and Ukrainians were -Countless Croats, Rumanians, Serbs, Slovaks, Slovenes and Ukrainians were subjected to Magyarization, or forced assimilation.  subjected to Magyarization, or forced assimilation. 

In 1920, as a result of the events of the First World War and the Peace In 1920, as a result of the events of the First World War and the Peace Treaty of Trianon, the territory of present-day Slovakia was officially Treaty of Trianon, the territory of present-day Slovakia was officially detached from Hungary and ceded to Czechoslovakia. detached from Hungary and ceded to Czechoslovakia.

Following the changes in the state authorities - till 1924 - approximately Following the changes in the state authorities - till 1924 - approximately 88,000 ethnic Hungarians (administrative and military personnel, 88,000 ethnic Hungarians (administrative and military personnel, landowners, etc.) moved to the new Hungarian state territory. At the landowners, etc.) moved to the new Hungarian state territory. At the same time, approximately 72,000 Czech military personnel, civil servants same time, approximately 72,000 Czech military personnel, civil servants and investors immigrated to the territory of Slovakia.and investors immigrated to the territory of Slovakia.

Mutual Discrimination of the PastMutual Discrimination of the PastMagyarizationMagyarization

Mutual Discrimination of the PastMutual Discrimination of the PastFirst Republic/ WWII MagyarizationFirst Republic/ WWII Magyarization

The 1920 Czechoslovak Constitution guaranteed equal rights for all The 1920 Czechoslovak Constitution guaranteed equal rights for all nationalities and granted them the right to use their native tongue in nationalities and granted them the right to use their native tongue in public and at religious and cultural events.public and at religious and cultural events.

Minority languages were accepted in the courts and in local and Minority languages were accepted in the courts and in local and state administrative offices wherever minorities comprised twenty state administrative offices wherever minorities comprised twenty percent of the population. This was actually the lowest limit in percent of the population. This was actually the lowest limit in interwar Europe. Despite these concessions, Hungarians in interwar Europe. Despite these concessions, Hungarians in Slovakia never accepted the First Czechoslovak Republic's Slovakia never accepted the First Czechoslovak Republic's legitimacy.legitimacy.

When the opportunity arose, Hungary seized southern Slovakia with When the opportunity arose, Hungary seized southern Slovakia with the blessings of Nazi Germany in the so-called Vienna Award of the blessings of Nazi Germany in the so-called Vienna Award of November 1938November 1938

Mutual Discrimination of the PastMutual Discrimination of the PastCommunism/Slovakization/DemocratizationCommunism/Slovakization/Democratization

During the communist regime, Slovak nationalism was largely kept in check by the strongly During the communist regime, Slovak nationalism was largely kept in check by the strongly centralist Prague regimecentralist Prague regime

The 1968 switch to a federal arrangement gave greater scope to Slovak nationalism, The 1968 switch to a federal arrangement gave greater scope to Slovak nationalism, however. however. New policies of assimilation includedNew policies of assimilation included

– progressive Localization of education, elimination of Hungarian place-names from signs, Magyars were forbidden progressive Localization of education, elimination of Hungarian place-names from signs, Magyars were forbidden to use their mother tongue in administrative dealings and in institutions and workplaces, and were pressured to to use their mother tongue in administrative dealings and in institutions and workplaces, and were pressured to Slovakize their given names.Slovakize their given names.

– Nonetheless, the most significant exclusionary factor in the Hungarian’s social situation under the communist Nonetheless, the most significant exclusionary factor in the Hungarian’s social situation under the communist regime was most likely their own refusal to integrate into the Czechoslovak system and to learn the language. regime was most likely their own refusal to integrate into the Czechoslovak system and to learn the language. Without a fluency in the official language, their economic and political opportunities were and continue to be Without a fluency in the official language, their economic and political opportunities were and continue to be severely limited.severely limited.

Since the 1989 "velvet revolution," nationalist sentiment has been growing in Slovakia. This Since the 1989 "velvet revolution," nationalist sentiment has been growing in Slovakia. This has resulted in a series of Slovak laws restricting the use of the Hungarian language and what has resulted in a series of Slovak laws restricting the use of the Hungarian language and what is perceived by the Hungarians as a campaign advocating racial discrimination against them is perceived by the Hungarians as a campaign advocating racial discrimination against them by many Slovak politicians and the Slovak media. by many Slovak politicians and the Slovak media.

This anti-Hungarian sentiment has been made worse by the elimination of the moderating This anti-Hungarian sentiment has been made worse by the elimination of the moderating Czech influence after the 1993 Czechoslovak split and consequent policies of Vladimir Meciar Czech influence after the 1993 Czechoslovak split and consequent policies of Vladimir Meciar

Current SituationCurrent SituationThe Party of the Hungarian Coalition (MKP), under former Deputy Prime The Party of the Hungarian Coalition (MKP), under former Deputy Prime Minister Bela Bugar, joined the Slovak government in 2002-2006. Minister Bela Bugar, joined the Slovak government in 2002-2006.

Despite sometimes strong anti-Hungarian sentiment among many Slovaks, the Despite sometimes strong anti-Hungarian sentiment among many Slovaks, the MKP achieved considerable progress for the Hungarian minority in recent MKP achieved considerable progress for the Hungarian minority in recent years, particularly in the fields of education and administration. years, particularly in the fields of education and administration.

The opening of a Hungarian University in the majority Hungarian speaking border town of The opening of a Hungarian University in the majority Hungarian speaking border town of Komaron/Komarno was one of the greatest achievements by the former coalition Komaron/Komarno was one of the greatest achievements by the former coalition government.government.

Despite the progress in recent years many of the rights of other minorities of a Despite the progress in recent years many of the rights of other minorities of a similar size enjoy in other parts of Europe remain unfulfilled in Slovakia. similar size enjoy in other parts of Europe remain unfulfilled in Slovakia.

Both the HZDS and the SNS (currently in Fico’s government) ran their 2006 election Both the HZDS and the SNS (currently in Fico’s government) ran their 2006 election campaigns with strong anti-Hungarian and anti-Roma slogan. In addition,  last week the campaigns with strong anti-Hungarian and anti-Roma slogan. In addition,  last week the ethnic-Hungarian SMK party announced that it is preparing to take legal action against ethnic-Hungarian SMK party announced that it is preparing to take legal action against SNS chairman Jan Slota for racist, anti-Hungarian comments. SNS chairman Jan Slota for racist, anti-Hungarian comments.

Current SituationCurrent SituationBilingual signage is limited to municipalities with more than 25% Hungarian speakers Bilingual signage is limited to municipalities with more than 25% Hungarian speakers which is substantially higher than the 8-10% that is considered best practice in Europe which is substantially higher than the 8-10% that is considered best practice in Europe today. today. The use of Hungarian in the Slovak parliament remains disallowed. The political regions The use of Hungarian in the Slovak parliament remains disallowed. The political regions of Slovakia have been created in a way to divide the Hungarian minority vote. of Slovakia have been created in a way to divide the Hungarian minority vote. Any process towards autonomy for majority Hungarian-speaking areas, based on the Any process towards autonomy for majority Hungarian-speaking areas, based on the South Tyrolean, Basque or Catalan model, remains unfulfilled.South Tyrolean, Basque or Catalan model, remains unfulfilled.

Bratislava the capital of Slovakia, and until 1918 a majority Hungarian speaking and at Bratislava the capital of Slovakia, and until 1918 a majority Hungarian speaking and at the time with a large German speaking community, continues to reject the erection of the time with a large German speaking community, continues to reject the erection of any bi- or trilingual signs in the cityany bi- or trilingual signs in the city

Another major complaint is over discriminatory compensation laws for the losses Another major complaint is over discriminatory compensation laws for the losses suffered by ethnic Hungarians resulting from the Benes decrees of 1945 (a series of suffered by ethnic Hungarians resulting from the Benes decrees of 1945 (a series of orders issued by the Czechoslovak president Eduard Benes that branded ethnic orders issued by the Czechoslovak president Eduard Benes that branded ethnic Hungarians and Germans with collective guilt). Hungarians and Germans with collective guilt).

While only a small portion of ethnic Hungarian leaders advocate secession from While only a small portion of ethnic Hungarian leaders advocate secession from Slovakia many ethnic Hungarians desire a greater degree of autonomy and self-Slovakia many ethnic Hungarians desire a greater degree of autonomy and self-determination within the Hungarian areas in southern Slovakia, especially with respect to determination within the Hungarian areas in southern Slovakia, especially with respect to language, education, and cultural issueslanguage, education, and cultural issues