national populism and slovak – hungarian relations in - MEK

Slovakia since 2004...of 10,000. The rally was also supported by ethnic Hungarians’ social organizationsand civic associations. It was a peaceful demonstration that alternatedkeynote speeches and cultural program. All Slovak parliamentary partiesharshly criticized the rally as inappropriate and prevocational. TheSlovak public apparently failed to understand that the demonstration wasnot aimed against the amendment as such but rather against the philosophyof the law as such and the overall minority policy of the Robert Ficoadministration. The rally was also attended by approximately 200 Hungariannationals who later unfurled several flags of the Hungarian Guard and theMovement of 64 Counties. The media attention focused primarily on thesefew people representing radical or extremist views, largely distorting therally’s impression in the eyes of the public; the media and politicians subsequentlyreproached organizers for failing to ban Hungarian Guard’s membersfrom the stadium.But quarrels surrounding the State Language Act merely painted back -drop for an incident that followed and amounted to another ‘historical low’in Slovak–Hungarian relations. To commemorate the Day of Saint Stephen,the first Hungarian king, municipal authorities in Komárno organized a culturalevent that would include unveiling his statue. They also invitedHungarian President László Sólyom to attend the festivities. Sólyom viewedthe visit as private and notified Slovak authorities about his plan to attendsome two months in advance.Several days before the visit scheduled for August 21, all three highestSlovak constitutional officials separately and jointly called on Sólyom notto travel to Slovakia because they viewed it inappropriate. While they didnot clearly formulate their main objection, they presented three variousreservations: first, no Slovak constitutional official had been invited toattend the event; second, President Sólyom should not attend a public eventon the neighbouring state’s territory under the pretext of a private visit;finally, the event’s timing was insensitive because August 21 is the anniversaryof invading Czechoslovakia by armies of five Warsaw Pact countriesincluding Hungary.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a note that banned Sólyom fromentering Slovakia’s territory on grounds of security risks his visit mightentail; in doing so, Slovakia actually ignored the Schengen Agreement onthe Free Movement of Persons. Ignoring the ban, Sólyom decided to arriveat Komárom on the Hungarian side of the Danube River and walk toKomárno through a bridge. However, in the middle of the bridge, he eventuallystopped, made a short statement and walked back to the Hungarianside.National Populism and Slovak – Hungarian Relations in Slovakia 2006 – 2009. Forum Minority Research Institute Šamorín – Somorja, 200983