Peter Spáč Preamble of the Constitution — —„We, the Slovak Nation, bearing in mind the political and cultural heritage of our predecessors, the experience gained through centuries of struggle for our national existence, and statehood…“ — —„…together with members of national minorities and ethnic groups living on the territory of the Slovak Republic“ — —Compare with the Preamble in the Czech Constitution — — The Hungarian issue The basic facts —Slovakia: —Population of 5,4 mil. —Ethnic composition: Slovaks (85,2 %), Hungarians (9,4), Roma (2), Czechs (1), Ruthenians (0,4), Ukrainians (0,2), other (1,6) — —Hungarian minority: —Around 500 000 citizens —Concentrated in southern part of Slovakia but this land does not form a solid region — Hungarian parties in Slovakia —1990 – 1998: —Three independent and relevant parties —Mutual cooperation — —1998 – 2009: —Integration in one subject representing the minority — —2009 – —Split to 2 parties —Unsuccessful aims for cooperation yet 1990 – 1998 —Coexistence: —„Hawks“ —Miklós Duray — —Hungarian Christian Democratic Movement: —„Moderates“ —Béla Bugár — —Hungarian Civic Party: —„Liberals“ —László Nagy — —Elections 1994 – together as the Hungarian Coalition (MK) — — 1998 - 2009 —1998 – Mečiar’s electoral reform against coalitions à MK transforms to Party of Hungarian Coalition (SMK) — —Participation on executive power in both governments led by Mikuláš Dzurinda — —Internal tension after elections 2006 — —2009 – group led by Bugár leaves SMK — — — Since 2009 —Existence of two parties: —SMK —The Bridge (Most-Híd) — —Most-Híd took the earlier position of SMK —SMK stays out of parliament — —Unsuccessful effort to cooperate —After 2020 both out of parliament — — Influencing relations —3 models of relations: —International (Hungary – Slovakia) —Domestic (Slovakia – Hungarian minority) —National (Hungarian minority – Hungary) — —Primary features: —Reflection of historical issues in present time (Treaty of Trianon, Beneš decrees) —Changing intensity of mutual tension Trianon —Occasional topic for the radicals — —Relevance of the topic neutralised with entry of Slovakia and Hungary to the EU — —„Does anyone understand that since Trianon we do not have our home? Todays Hungary is not a real home even for those who live there, but it is only a „residual“ country“ —Miklós Duray, 2006 Autonomy —A topic situated more in the 90s than in the present — —Different understanding of the word „autonomy“ and its content by Hungarian politicians — —Autonomy of culture and schools vs. territorial autonomy — —Approval of Hungarian politicians not to open this topic allowed them to participate on government Hungarian exterritorial laws —„“In a legal sense, in accordance with the Constitution, I want to act as the head of the government of all the citizens of this 10 million strong country, but inspirit and sentiment as the prime minister of 15 million Hungarians.” — József Antall, Hungarian Prime Minister in early 90s — — —„14-15 million Hungarians can do much more than 10 million” —Viktor Orbán, current Hungarian Prime Minister — Hungarian exterritorial laws —Foreign IDs (2002): —Available for „minority“ Hungarians except from Austria —Financial advantages directly from Hungary —Some SMK officials got these IDs — —Dual citizenship (2010): —Possibility to gain also a Hungarian citizenship —Slovakia adopted a counter-law leading to abandoning the Slovak citizenship —Until 2012 – about 200 thousand requests (minimum from Slovakia) — —Mobilizing tool for Slovak nationalists and anti-Hungarian sentiments The Hungarian issue Now from the other side Anti-Hungarian nationalism —Playing with the so called „Hungarian card“ — —In use mainly in the 90s and later until 2010 — —Various ways of usage: — —Electoral campaign —Daily politics —Reactions on Hungarian political actions —Suitable way how to overlay other negative problems — — Slovak National Party —Created in 1990, claims a link with historical SNS — —Radical right party: —Nationalism, xenophobia —Topics – Hungarians, Roma, homosexuals, against NATO, reserved towards EU — —Main leaders until 2010: —Ján Slota —Anna Belousovová — Slovak National Party —Development: —Early years – searching for identity à radicalization since 1994 —2001 – split, Slota creates the True SNS (PSNS) —2003 – unification after unsuccessful elections — —Position in the system: —Member of governments led by Mečiar (1994-1998) and Fico (2006-2010) —Out of parliament (2012 – 2016) —Since 2016 back in government (with Most-Hid) —2020 – lost its parliamentary status — — — — The peak of nationalism —Mečiar’s government in 1994 - 1998 — —SNS got ministries of education and defense — —Topics: —Bilingual school reports —Name of towns —Names and surnames in registers —New administrative division of Slovakia —Lowering the funds for minorities’ culture — — — Electoral Campaign in 2006 —SNS used very offensive anti-Hungarian campaign —A reaction following 8 years of SMK in government — —„We are Slovaks. A Slovak government for Slovaks“ —Program of SNS for elections 2006 —Clear reaction to presence of Hungarians in government — —SNS - billboards, slogans etc. with a common message: —Hungarians as an enemy —Hungarians as a threat — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —Faithless (music band) – God is a DJ: —Enemies becoming friends, when bitterness ends — —SNS – Campaign 2006: —Neighbors becoming enemies — — — — — — — — — Ján Slota —The most visible representative of Slovak nationalism until 2010 — —Very offensive language towards various social groups — —Verbal attacks on: —Hungary, its history, symbols and politicians —Hungarian minority —Roma —Homosexuals —Slovak politicians including prominent members of SNS —Media — — — — — — — — — The tank attack on Budapest — — —Most „popular“ scandal — —Occurred in 1999 on a meeting of HZDS where he was a guest speaker — —Slota called for a tank attack on Budapest — —„We will not leave it like this, we will go in tanks and we will flatten Budapest“ — — — — — — — — — — — http://www.morozov.com.ua/images/t80ud-01l.jpg SNS after 2010 — —In 2012 SNS dropped out of parliament — —Change of leadership: —Ján Slota excluded from the party —New leader – Andrej Danko — —Change of profile: —SNS started a renewal process and claimed to differ from its past —Many representatives from the 90s however remained in the party — —Decline of anti-Hungarian appeals, increase of populism and conservative values — — — — — — — — — — — — Výsledek obrázku pro kapitan danko Campaign 2016 Odborník hodnotí volebné billboardy: Čo nám chcú politici heslami ... Temporary rebirth —Success in 2016 election: —8,6 per cent and 15 MPs —Entered government with SMER-SD and Most-Hid —A clear sign of decline of anti-Hungarian sentiments — —Further increase of public support (up to 14 per cent) stopped with issues of the new leader —The military rank of captain —His doctoral thesis found to be a result of plagiarism —Became target of vast mockery in public — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — http://www.manmagazin.sk/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/2348860_625x.jpeg http://www.manmagazin.sk/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/16003112_1426541920689131_554230452003594161_n. jpg http://www.manmagazin.sk/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/16114829_1296380103733910_8620631631152887768_n .jpg Temporary rebirth —Success in 2016 election: —8,6 per cent and 15 MPs —Entered government with SMER-SD and Most-Hid —A clear sign of decline of anti-Hungarian sentiments — —Further increase of public support (up to 14 per cent) stopped with issues of the new leader —The military rank of captain —His doctoral thesis found to be a result of plagiarism —Became target of vast mockery in public — —Continuous decline of public support resulting in 3 per cent in 2020 election — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — The Roma issue Roma in Slovakia —Unclear proportion of the population — —Official census: —1991 – 75 802 (1,4 %) —2001 – 89 920 (1,7 %) —2011 - 105 738 (2 %) — —Real estimations around 400 000 — —Geographically concentrated in Central and Eastern Slovakia — — — — — — — — — — — — — 0,73 2,88 0,54 3,77 2,14 14,68 40,76 34,5 75 per cent of Roma live in Eastern Slovakia Roma in Slovakia — —Very bad image from the majority’s point of view — —Associated features: —Lack of education —Unemployment —Living conditions and habits —Criminality — — — — — — — — — — — — — Public surveys – „Who would you not accept as your neighbor?“ Category 2006 2008 Drug addict 84,9 88,6 Roma 72,8 82,4 Convicted felon 58,8 71,3 Right-wing extremist 62 66,8 Muslim 49,5 54,7 Homosexual 38,8 51,2 Immigrant 35,2 41,5 Person of a different race 28,8 39,5 Jew 21,5 29 Disabled 6 8,7 — — — — — — — — — — — — — http://img.aktuality.sk/stories/NAJNOVSIE_FOTKY/ILUSTRACNE/LUDIA/romovia/romska_osada_angi_mlyn_tas r.jpg http://img.aktuality.sk/stories/NAJNOVSIE_FOTKY/ILUSTRACNE/LUDIA/romovia/article/romska_osada_ostro vany_tasr_2.jpg http://i1.trekearth.com/photos/18586/lunik9c.jpg http://www3.teraz.sk/usercontent/photos/c/1/d/3-c1df9e923988309384cdb9292408c2c1063c63e7.jpg Roma and politics — —No relevant Roma political party — —Attempts to create such subjects end without any success — —Roma parties receive only marginal number of votes — —Lack of organizational skills and absence of unified ethnic identity — —Non disciplined voters (regular attempts to buy their votes) — — — — — — — — — — — — Roma as a topic for nationalists — —Mostly stressed by SNS in the past — —Ideas even beyond the principles of democracy or human rights — —Examples: —Reservations (as Indians in North America) —„A small yard and a big whip“ — — — — — — — — — — — — SNS campaign in 2010 http://img.sk.prg.cmestatic.com/media/images/580xX/May2010/2150962.jpg Rise of extremism —People`s Party – Our Slovakia (LSNS) — —Leader – Marian Kotleba — —Emerged in 2010 — —Previous links with extremist Slovak Brotherhood: —Electoral failure in 2006 —Dissolved in 2008 — — — — https://nacjonalizm.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/nasza-sc582owacja-logo.jpg?w=584 Ideology —Slovak Brotherhood: —Various topics —Slovak wartime state, Hungarians, Roma, NATO, homosexuals… — —LSNS: —Modification of the profile —Primary focus on Roma —Other topics present, but rather secondary —Inclusion of excessive populism after 2012 — — — — — LSNS and Roma minority —Party`s framing of the minority: —Asocial parasites —Gypsy terrorists — —LSNS blames the mainstream parties for being passive and for keeping the majority unprotected — —Trips to towns with Roma settlements — —Kotleba`s purchase of land with an illegal settlement — — — — — — Performance in elections —Originally only minor success in national elections: —2010 – 1,33 % —2012 – 1,58 % — —Kotleba`s unsuccessful attempt to become regional governor in 2010 — —Regional election 2013: —Kotleba scored second in the first round —In runoff Kotleba won over SMER`s incumbent — — — National elections 2012 —LSNS support grows with rising share of Roma in municipalities — —Maximum votes obtained in areas with 25.1 – 50 per cent Roma — —Slight increase of votes in areas near Roma settlements — — National elections 2016 —LSNS gained 8 per cent (more than 200 000 votes) and entered parliament — —Five times more votes than in 2012 election — —The party won among young people — —Rise of extremism or adoption of protest image? —Besides racial hatred, LSNS adopted new topics —Immigration, populism, anti-elitism, anti-EU, vaccine hesitancy — — — http://t1.aimg.sk/magaziny/8drGhbSMRuiQIvZpWsGmSQ~Mari-n-Kotleba-s-ubuje-na-stavu-SR.png?t=Lzk2eDEy OjU2MHgyNzMvZml0LWluLzgwMHgwL2ZpbHRlcnM6Zm9ybWF0KGpwZWcp&h=ppcJGJ2dHaS3LJPTIXoAIQ&e=2145916800&v=3 http://i.idnes.cz/13/113/org/MLB4f713f_kotleba.jpg From uniforms to suits http://1gr.cz/fotky/idnes/15/081/cl6/FKA5d1d05_154951_773899.jpg Zelená pro Kotlebu. Slovenský nejvyšší soud odmítl rozpustit ... After 2016 —Train patrols: —LSNS started to send patrols to trains into regions with higher share of Roma — —Intensified cooperation with vast network of alternative media to mobilize people — —Proclaimed stress on conservative values and lives of decent people — —Despite its anti-elitist stance, the government could rely on LSNS MPs when needed — — — — http://static.cdn.markiza.sk/media/a501/image/file/21/0191/vouQ.kotlebova_hliadka_vo_vlakoch.jpg Summary —Strong role of nationalism in Slovak politics — —Increasing extremism in recent decade — —Main representatives (after 1993): —SNS – until 2010 —LSNS – after 2010 — —Far-right appeals used also by other parties (SMER-SD, We are Family) when needed — — —