Only say it in Slovak

In accordance with a measure that recalls the treatment of minorities under Ceauşescu — from now on, Hungarian doctors will be forced to address their Hungarian patients in Slovak, even if both parties would prefer to converse in Hungarian. In compliance with a further surreal stipulation, speakers at cultural events will be obliged to repeat jokes in Slovak, even if the audience is 100% Hungarian. Slovakia's openly anti-Hungarian law has prompted a unanimous response from Hungarian political parties, who insist that authorities in Bratislava are following in the footsteps of the Taliban and Khomeini's religious police and paving the way for the introduction of "language policing."

There is no denying the historical irony: "ethnic fundamentalists" among Slovakia's leaders are resurrecting pre-war conflicts, and copying the worst excesses of Magyar nationalism of times past. Let's not forget the impact of the shortsighted policy espoused by Lajos Kossuth (1802-1894) who said, "I will never recognize any nation other than Hungary under the jurisdiction of the Holy crown of Hungary," and its role in the failure of the Hungarian war of independence. In 1848, the Hapsburgs successfully instrumentalised this chauvinistic position to turn minorities against Hungary. Instead of promoting federal autonomy, Hungarian politicians attempted to keep a grip on centralized power — and in so doing contributed to the loss of two thirds of Hungary's territory under the 1920 Treaty of Trianon.

Playing into the hands of Hungary's extreme-right

Our neighbours are now blindly developing a similar nationalist agenda, based on ethnic criteria and forced assimilation. In the era of modern democracy, the implementation of such a nationalist policy — which is designed to avenge wrongs inflicted 150 years ago — is quite simply untenable. And yet, we cannot deny it is happening. In response to this situation, the EU has decided to content itself with mumbled complaints and a half-hearted offer to arbitrate. Brussels seems to be unaware that extremists across Europe are observing what is happening in Bratislava — and Slovakia's initiative may soon be replicated in other countries, where it will be used to target immigrants or religious minorities, or any group that extremists do not particularly like. This has already happened in Hungary, where the establishment of Slovakian linguistic censorship has reinforced the position of the extreme-right party Jobbik. In short, the law is blank cheque for ethnic demagogues, who will now make use of legal mumbo-jumbo to introduce discriminatory measures.

But we cannot help wondering what has prompted the Slovak state to sponsor such action. From an economic point of view, their country is first in its class, so why bother with such nonsense? And the truth is, we need look no further than the economy. The latest wave of nationalist demagoguery is clearly a bid to relieve tensions prompted by cost-cutting reforms — what we are seeing is simply a rejuvenated version of an age-old political recipe, which supplements a shortage of bread in the welfare state with a side dish of nationalist spectacle!

If the European Union does not call Slovakia to order, this young nation may soon develop into a delinquent state — and that will result in dire and bloody consequences for Slovakians as well as Hungarians. Let's not forget that wherever pogroms bloom, the fruits of economic prosperity will always wither on the branch.

AS SEEN FROM BRATISLAVA

"We are no longer in a Hungarian empire"

The new language law to "protect" Slovak, signed on 17 July by Slovakian President Ivan Gašparovič, is now an issue on both sides of the Danube. Responding to virulent criticism from members of the Hungarian parliament and the Party of the Hungarian Coalition (SMK), which safeguards the rights of the Hungarian minority living in southern Slovakia, Prime Minister Robert Fico announced in the columns of the daily SME: "We must guarantee the right of every Slovak citizen to use the Slovak national language on Slovak territory."

For Slovakia's leaders, Hungary's bid to intervene in Slovak legislation is an unashamed provocation. In a further article, SME leads with the headline "Fico says the law will not be abrogated — we are not in a Hungarian empire." Later in the report Fico is quoted as saying that "Hungarian political parties would be happy if Slovaks were forced to learn Hungarian to live in the south of this country." Culture Minister Marek Maďarič, who was the instigator of the law, regrets that "Hungarian policy is stuck in the 19th century," and added that "Hungarians still believe that they can dictate law to Slovaks."

The Slovak law may have divided the two countries, but it has brought a unified response from scientists on both sides. "This law will put both Hungarians and Slovaks at a disadvantage" points out a Slovak linguist, who signed an international petition launched by theAcademy of Sciences in Budapest which according to SME views the law as "a lingusitic absurdity." The Czech news site www.aktualne.cznotes that the law does not only target Hungarian, and expressions imported from English "like 'popcorn' and 'fastfood' will disappear in Slovakia."