Controversial Language Law Proposal Sparks Tensions in Slovakia

Controversial Language Law Proposal in Slovakia

A draft law in Slovakia aimed at restricting the use of minority languages in public spaces has sparked significant concerns regarding the rights of the Hungarian population residing in the country. The proposed amendment to the existing language legislation mandates that Slovak text must take precedence on public signage and advertisements. Furthermore, the use of minority languages would be banned on public transport and in essential services such as post offices, as reported by local media outlets. Individuals found in violation of this law could face hefty fines, reaching up to €15,000.

Slovakia previously enacted a similar amendment in 2009, which established Slovak as the obligatory language for civil servants. This move resulted in heightened diplomatic tensions with Hungary. The two neighboring countries, both emerging from a communist past, have experienced ongoing disputes over Slovakia’s treatment of its Hungarian minority population. However, relations between the NATO and EU members have shown signs of improvement recently, partly due to the shared nationalist sentiments of Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico.

Diplomatic Engagements

In a recent interaction, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán were seen shaking hands during a press conference in Budapest, signifying a potential thawing of relations as of January 16, 2024.

Opposition lawmakers in Slovakia, along with human rights advocates, have voiced their concerns that this new proposal is even more stringent than the 2009 amendment. They argue that it could adversely affect businesses, diminish the country’s competitiveness, and invite criticism from the European Union. René Parák, a member of the Freedom and Solidarity party (SaS), criticized the proposed law, describing it as “absurd” and targeting the Hungarian minority. He lamented that it represents a regressive step for Slovakia, reminiscent of the 1990s.

Parák further emphasized, “This law, steeped in nationalism, often restricts and continues to limit the rights of the country’s population to freely share and receive information in their native language, as well as impeding entrepreneurial freedoms.”

In response to these concerns, Slovakia’s Culture Minister, Martina Šimkovičová, who is affiliated with the Slovak National Party, reportedly brushed aside the criticisms, asserting that the draft amendment aims to “consolidate the status of the state language and ensure effective state control.”

International Reactions

Hungary’s Foreign Minister, Peter Szijjártó, has commented on the issue, stating that he has engaged in discussions with the Slovak Speaker of Parliament, Peter Žiga, who reassured him that any modification to Slovakia’s language law would not infringe upon the rights of the Hungarian minority.

According to the latest census data, Hungarians make up approximately 8% of Slovakia’s 5.4 million-strong population, making them the country’s largest ethnic minority. Historically, Budapest governed Slovakia during the era of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until its dissolution following World War I.

In the political arena, Slovakia’s populist Prime Minister Fico has returned to power for the fourth time, following his leftist party Smer’s victory in the parliamentary elections last year, which was characterized by a pro-Russia and anti-US campaign. Fico’s stance on Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has seen him halt military aid to Ukraine and oppose EU sanctions against Moscow. This position aligns him closely with Orbán, and the two leaders have recently advocated for increased EU funding to address the challenges posed by illegal migration.