BRATISLAVA, January 2, (WEBNOVINY) — Chairman of the former ruling coalition party MOST-HID, Bela Bugar, is not completely satisfied with how the current coalition has resolved minority issues. “I cannot be absolutely satisfied but some problems have been resolved. We have removed fines for citizens from the law on state language. The law on the use of minority languages was adopted, but above all atmosphere has changed,” Bugar told SITA news agency in an exclusive interview. He opines that the ruling coalition has not tried to resolve tough topics that were served from Hungary with battle cries but diplomatically. “Therefore, it can be said that tensions or anti-Hungarian sentiments have almost disappeared during our government, during a year and a few weeks. I feel sorry we have not been able to resolve, for example, the law on citizenship [to allow dual citizenship for all — SITA note],” he added.
Funding of cultures of ethnic minorities would certainly have been adopted if there were not early elections. “The problem is always in the fact that some politicians are not educating their voters. When voters have some anti-Hungarian opinions, politicians prefer not to correct them as they are afraid. However, there has been a certain positive move,” Bugar stated. For example, a solution to the dispute over dual citizenship was de facto supported by all parties but for one KDH deputy and four MPs from the „Ordinary People“ movement of Igor Matovic. “We were able to persuade all. This is a shift for Slovak politicians,” he emphasized. Even though eventually the amended citizenship law was not approved, MOST-HID collected 43 signatures to file a motion to the Constitutional Court. “We only have 14 deputies, which means that there is also a certain shift here. We should perceive this positively,” he stated.
SITA