Controversial modification of the law in 2009 Language law of Slovakia

1 controversial modification of law in 2009

1.1 criticism in hungary

1.1.1 hungarian academy of sciences


1.2 international reaction

1.2.1 osce
1.2.2 slovak academy of sciences
1.2.3 european parliament (ep)
1.2.4 federal union of european nationalities
1.2.5 forum minority research institute


1.3 demonstrations

controversial modification of law in 2009

areas in slovakia hungarian speakers make @ least 20%.

in 2009 slovak parliament passed language law, mandating preferential use of state language – slovak. use of non-state language when conducting business carry financial penalty. similarly, penalty given publishing books, journals or scientific proceedings in language other slovak, or singing in public in languages other slovak or song s original language.

opponents have described law 1 criminalises use of hungarian; however, according slovak government, law doesn t interfere use of minority languages.

criticism in hungary

gordon bajnai, hungarian prime minister, has charged slovakia of scapegoating hungarian speakers. hungarian foreign minister péter balázs compared creation of language law politics of nicolae ceauşescu regime on use of language. hungarian newspaper budapest times has questioned dual standards use czech language in slovakia; however, charge ignores mutual intelligibility between czech , slovak, renders them compatible in business , law.

president of hungary lászló sólyom expressed worries law, because according him law violates spirit , @ places word of several bi- , multilateral agreements, , perceived philosophy of converting multi-ethnic state homogenous nation state , forced assimilation incompatible values of european union , international laws protecting minorities.

hungarian prime minister gordon bajnai said law violates words , spirit of several bilateral , international agreements. said slovak politicians nationalism living , suspects minority issues getting foreground in slovakia cover real problems .

péter balázs, foreign minister of hungary, told die presse robert fico, slovak prime minister, unfortunately trying popularity cheap means .

according balázs, real reason language law gaining voters parliamentary elections of next year in slovakia, playing hungarian card , , sees issue part of little political game . stated regarding bilateral relations, doesn t expect robert fico more. hungarian foreign minister péter balázs compared creation of language law politics of ceauşescu regime on use of language.

all 4 parties of parliament of hungary (hungarian socialist party, fidesz, christian democratic people s party, alliance of free democrats) issued joint declaration asking slovakia repel legislation.

viktor orbán, chairman of hungary s opposition fidesz , former prime minister (1998–2002), said no 20th-century country have allowed such regulations, , called absurdity slovaks @ end of first decade of 21st century. orbán added not democracies mentally sound regimes not have tried creating such regulations, or @ least not without risk of being ridiculed .

former hungarian prime minister ferenc gyurcsány condemned law in blog, calling outrage , , stated there can no explanation or excuse make acceptable:

lajos bokros, member of european parliament (mep) , former hungarian minister of finance, condemned law in letter stating hungarians in slovakia want along on homeland , , reminded slovakia s meps hungarian minority did great contribution slovakia joining european union , eurozone.

hungarian radical right-wing party jobbik organized half-road block demonstration on border in komárom, stating issue no longer internal affair of slovakia, issue of european level . chairman gábor vona called law shame of europe , slovakia goes beyond frameworks of democracy , called slovak politics aggressive , racist . vona urged peace between hungary , slovakia fears there laughing third profits conflicts, naming globalization common enemy of 2 nations.

hungarian academy of sciences

the research institute linguistics of hungarian academy of sciences published statement on amendment of slovak language law, , has been signed many people around world, including linguists such noam chomsky, peter trudgill, bernard comrie, ian roberts, , ruth wodak.

the ethnic-national minority institute of hungarian academy of sciences analyzed law , found in interest of protecting , supporting mother tongue, slovak legislature s law amendment violates several basic rights protection of in case required international legal obligations . institute brought example of fireman helping escaping person not speak slovak, , forced reply in slovak, according analysis of law.

international reaction
osce

knut vollebæk, organization security , co-operation in europe high commissioner on national minorities concluded law not violate international standards.

organization security , co-operation in europe high commissioner on national minorities, knut vollebæk, reviewed law , issued report in concluded that:

when read systematically, clear extension of scope of application of law not (and cannot) imply restriction of linguistic rights of persons belonging national minorities.

he stated law not violate international standards or obligations of slovak republic; more perception of newly enacted possible financial penalisation can exacerbate present tensions. called reserved application of penalisation clause.

the party of hungarian coalition (mkp) asked slovak government release communication exchanged between them , vollebæk opinion of vollebæk regarding law not misrepresented or distorted. according slovak ministry of foreign affairs report released unchanged , in full. spokesman peter stano stated: obvious party of hungarian coalition unable question reliability of vollebæk report, law following legitimate goal , s in accordance international norms. vollebaek monitor situation until law on minority language use reach level of state language law in slovakia.

slovak academy of sciences

slovak linguists Ľudovít Štúr institute of linguistics of slovak academy of sciences reluctant comment on amendment, issue highly politicised. in opinion, however, aside fines, law introduces minor changes wording enacted.

european parliament (ep)

jerzy buzek, president of european parliament said issue revolving around law harms spirit of european integration , principles of democracy.

according european bureau lesser-used languages (eblul), president of european parliament, jerzy buzek, said issue beyond being affair between slovakia , hungary , becoming issue of whole european union because harms spirit of european integration , principles of democracy. however, said need study thoroughly in order find out whether legal framework has been violated .

michael gahler, member of european parliament (mep) , vice-chairman of european parliament s foreign affairs committee, criticized act, saying slovak prime minister robert fico , coalition partners have yet neither mentally nor politically arrived in europe . gahler stated slovakia violating commonly respected standards in eu , disregarding recommendations of council of europe, foresee extended use of minority languages . according gahler, slovakia risks discrediting eu member , again become totalitarian state if new provisions consistently applied. suggested modern , open slovakia communicating , cooperating closely neighbours better both country , citizens; however, not expect present slovak government coalition.

federal union of european nationalities

hans heinrich hansen, president of federal union of european nationalities (fuen) called law absurd.

according hans heinrich hansen, president of federal union of european nationalities (fuen), language law makes punishable offence use language not belong on statute books of european country . said law totally absurd , insane .

fuen published article titled right 1 s own native language – language law in slovakia in hansen quoted arguing authors of law made first main error in reasoning failing realize hungarian not foreign language in slovakia, native language of around 500,000 hungarian-speaking citizens . according hansen, slovakia must protect , promote native language of citizens, of hungarian-speaking citizens.

hansen recommended examination of example of minority treatment, of swedish-speaking population in finland. promised fuen speak in brussels issue of law.

forum minority research institute

kálmán petőcz of independent forum minority research institute in slovakia told ips law seen expression of superiority of slovaks on other nationalities in slovakia . said serves worsen everyday relations between slovaks , ethnic hungarians, , quoted research showing many young slovak schoolchildren have prejudiced attitudes towards hungarian counterparts .

petőcz thinks politicians in government nationalist , anti-hungarian , sees of government populist , try find enemy pick on , use win votes .

lászló ollós, political analyst of same institute, criticized law being ambiguous, in order give power possible bureaucrats, alone can decide when apply law , when not .

demonstrations

on september 1, ethnic hungarians of slovakia held demonstration in stadium of dunajská streda (hungarian: dunaszerdahely) against law. bbc gives number of protesters around 10,000, slovak paper pravda cites 6,000. event attended several hundred extremists, hungarian nationals, expressed vocal support territorial autonomy , chanted death trianon . these not addressed directly nor denounced ex post organizing party of smk , leader pál csaky. attendees claimed not protesting against slovaks in general, protesting fact, have no rights whatsoever national minority . major slovak political parties denounced meeting counterproductive feat, exacerbate tension.