Slovak-Hungarian relations may be seriously harmed if the center-right Fidesz party wins parliamentary elections in Hungary scheduled for April, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) told news agency Reuters.
Fico was reacting to an announcement by Fidesz leader Viktor Orban that he would like to grant citizenship to Hungarians living abroad. About half a million of Slovakia’s population of 5 million are ethnic Hungarians. Fidesz has a considerable lead in opinion polls, as does Fico’s Smer-SD with Slovak parliamentary elections to be held in June. Tensions between Hungary and Slovakia emerged following the passing of a language law in Slovakia last year which stipulates that street names and public buildings must be labeled in Slovak and state officials must be able to conduct their business with correct usage of the Slovak language.
