Weekly Media Review

of Hungarian

Communities Abroad

3/2020

Árpád János Potápi: Our national anthem is the most significant element of our culture and identity Speaking at the commemoration of Ferenc Kölcsey, the author of the Hungarian national anthem on the Day of Hungarian Culture on Sunday, State Secretary for Hungarian Communities Abroad at the Prime Minister’s Office Árpád János Potápi pointed out that our national anthem is the most significant element of our culture and identity. The commemoration was held in Szatmárcseke in ’s Szabolcs- Hungary Szatmár-Bereg county. Speaking about the birth of the national anthem, Mr. Potápi recalled that unlike other nations’ anthems, the Hungarian anthem is not a victory march, but a song of centuries expressing both the tragedies of the Hungarian nation as well as its string faith in God. The state secretary added that on the day of Hungarian culture we do not only celebrate a perfectly written and composed song that connects all Hungarian hearts, but the Christian faith and a millennium of history as well.

Péter Szilágyi: Hungarian communities in the diaspora have invaluable force Speaking to the Hungarian daily Magyar Nemzet (“Hungarian Nation”), Ministerial Commissioner responsible for Hungarian Communities abroad Péter Szilágyi said that today Hungarians in the diaspora are part of the Hungarian nation and they are treated by the kin-state as they deserve. According to Péter Szilágyi, the programs aimed to support dispersed Hungarian communities strengthened them significantly. He added that two new programs will soon be launched focusing in young generations in the diaspora who would like to continue their studies in Hungarian high schools or universities. Speaking about the Kőrösi Csoma Sándor Program, Mr. Szilágyi stressed that it was launched in 2013 with the participation of 47 scholarship holders and by today this number has tripled. He also pointed out that the Meeting of Hungarian Weekend Schools will be organized again in Budapest this year. He emphasized that this meeting is especially important since the most active Hungarian communities in the diaspora are usually organized around weekend schools, adding that as part of the meeting in Budapest, the participants (leaders of the weekend school) will receive professional support as well as an opportunity to meet each other and share experience.

vania

Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in (RMDSZ) celebrates its 30th yl anniversary The Democratic Alliance of (RMDSZ) celebrated its 30th anniversary in Kolozsvár/Cluj Napoca on Saturday. Speaking at the event, the

president of the alliance Hunor Kelemen stressed that challenges will remain; Trans Hungarians in Romania must preserve their identity, remain a strong community and make living in a community worthwhile. Mr. Kelemen emphasized that the aim of the

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founders was to create an association, not a party. He expressed his gratitude to the Hungarian government and added that the Hungarian community in Romania has now better conditions than 30 years ago. As he pointed out, “our main task is the same, as long as the community faces challenges in Romania, it has to work on vania preserving the national identity.” yl

Hungarian People's Party of Transylvania and Hungarian Civic Party merge into one party

On Saturday in Csíkszereda/ Miercurea Ciuc, the assembly of the delegates of the Trans Hungarian People's Party of Transylvania (EMNP) and the Hungarian Civic Party (MPP) decided on the fusion of the two parties. The new party will be named Transylvanian Hungarian Alliance (Erdélyi Magyar Szövetség). The two parties also decided that the registration process will be launched after the local elections in which they take part as candidates of the Transylvanian Hungarian Alliance. President of EMNP István Csomortányi pointed out at a press conference after the congress of the two parties that he felt it would be jeopardizing their participation in the local elections if they took part as candidates of the coalition party, as the registration might not be finalized by then. This is why they chose to form a political alliance, which requires a far simpler registration procedure.

RMDSZ is preparing for a local and early parliamentary election that might bring Hungarian-Hungarian competition Speaking at the Council of Representatives, also known as RMDSZ’s micro-parliament, Hunor Kelemen pointed out on Saturday in Kolozsvár/Cluj Napoca that people’s common interest requires a stable parliamentary majority in Romania as soon as possible, that is why the RMDSZ supports early parliamentary elections. Mr. Kelemen noted that since 2012, there has been a political crisis in Romania and it has had 9 governments since then. He confirmed that the RMDSZ will vote for the motion of no- confidence against the government, as they disagree with the liberal government on the idea of having two-round local election system. The president also commented on the expected Hungarian-Hungarian competition at the local elections, as the

Hungarian People's Party of Transylvania and the Hungarian Civic Party decided to

merge into one party. According to his statement, this is an entirely new situation, as the RMDSZ used to cooperate with the MPP, but in case the coalition takes place, the agreement becomes void.

New Hungarian nursery school to be built in Szabadka A new Hungarian nursery school is to be built in Szabadka/Subotica. The institution

will host two day care and three nursery groups. The ground has already been bought Vojvodina and constructions will begin shortly. The investment in Subotica will take place within the frames of the Carpathian Basin Nursery School Development Program. In

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the past three years, the Hungarian Government spent nearly HUF 1 billion on this

program in Vojvodina.

Ukrainian parliament adopts the bill on secondary education At final reading, the Ukrainian parliament adopted the bill on secondary education, which affects the national minorities as well. The bill was supported by 327 members of the 450-member legislation. According to a press release of the Ministry of Education, the article on the language use was written following several consultations with representatives of national minorities and considering suggestions of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe. The adopted law contains 3 methods of teaching Ukrainian language in minority secondary schools. It evokes the 7th article of the highly controversial education act of 2017, also known as the language article. The act divides minorities in Ukraine into 3 groups and prescribes different methods of language teaching accordingly. According to this categorization, the Hungarian Transcarpathia national minority belongs to the second group which consists of people speaking any language of the European Union. Education in their mother tongue is provided up to the fifth grade. As Kiev promised, this act will claim that the language article will not affect private schools.

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