Hungary's 'Status Law' helping Orban

BUDAPEST'S controversial law granting preferential treatment to ethinic Hungarians in neighbouring countries is being used to boost Viktor Orban's chances of winning a second term as prime Minister, his Slovak counterpart has claimed.

Last June's decision by the Hungarian parliament to adopt the so-called Status Law has particularly incensed Romania and Slovakia. They were not consulted about a range of 'discriminatory' benefits such as teacher scholarships and exemptions from residence permits offered to ethinic Hungarians.

Slovak premier Mikulas Dzurinda said he is committed to resolving his differences with Orban but feels he will have to wait until after the Hungarian elections on 7 and 21 April before the current impasse can be broken. "He [Orban] uses this card as a political flag to lead to the success of his party," Dzurinda told European Voice.

But Dzurinda has ruled out taking retaliatory measures for the time being. "If necessary, we will do it[retaliate]," he said. "But I cannot beliece it is impossible to reach a final agreement."

Slovakia's efforts to have the law rescinded were boosted by a report last autumn from the 43-nation Council of Europe.

Although the report found it legitimate for states to enact laws conferring benefits on 'kin folk' livining outside their borders, it urged those states to avoid more 'extraterritorial' measures without the consent of the affected countries.

Earlier this week the Enlargement Commissioner Gunter Verheugen said the Commission cuold only back the law's implememtation if Hungary and its neighbours reach an agreement on it.

Dzurinda also issued a fresh broadside against his predecessor Vladimir Meciar. Slovak prime minister during most of the 1990s, Meciar has faced a litany of allegations that he mismanaged the economy after its independence in 1993, that he showed favouritism to particular companies during the privatisation process and that he abused power.

Meciar, leader of the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia, still enjoys much support, especially among older people. A recent opinon poll suggested he is the country's most popular politician with 20.8% support. Dzurinda stands at 8.8%.

"For Slovakia, it would be much beter to create a governmwnt without Meciar and his party," added Dzurinda. "I don't trust him. He has been connected with many, many cases that were against democracy."

Despite his strong showing in opinion polls, Dzurinda does not believe Meciar will be part of the ruling coalition likely to be formed after September's general election.

Both Dzurinda's Slovak Democratic and Christian Union and Roberto Fico's Smer (Direction) party have ruled out forming a government with him.

Earlier this year EU foreign ministers listed the prospect of his return to power as a key problem for the enlargement process.

There are also fears that such an eventuality would dash Slovak hopes of being invited to join NATO at the Alliance's Prague summit in November.

Two interesting things, 1: that the EU is being 'soft' on the Hungarian 'Status Law' which is (and will continue to) cause friction with its neighbors, and 2: that the EU is trying to manipulate who becomes next PM.

VRN

Hungarian friends explained it this way: Hungary lost WWI and had 2/3 of her land mass taken by Romania and other countrys. (My friend lives on Romanian border, relatives in Romania) Ethnic Hungarians in Romania are 2nd class citizens and their children are not allowed to speak hungarian. 2 separate cultures like arabs/jews. Anyway, lots of anger and resentment 82 years after the end of WWI, festering. You should hear the hungarains tell the story.

Hungary must be attempting to preserve their ethnic heritege, culture, and language, with teacher benefits ect. Lose your language, culture follows. I don't think anyone believes Euro or forced ethnic assimilization will destroy nationalism; but just maybe the French will start speaking English, ha.

My wife came from good respectable hunkie bloodlines; luv that pagatch, sitek, and buttering bone marrow on fresh baked bread.

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