Slovak-Hungarian Children granted Dual Citizenship under Robert Fico’s Government
Slovak Government to Terminate Citizenship Agreement with Hungary
The Slovak government has made the decision to terminate the citizenship agreement with Hungary that was signed back in 1961. This move comes after the cabinet of Prime Minister Robert Fico approved the decision on October 23, as reported by New Word. The termination of this agreement is seen as a positive development for the children of Slovak-Hungarian families, as they will now have the opportunity to retain both nationalities if the decision is ultimately approved by parliament.
Under the terms of the agreement, children born to parents who were dual citizens, or had one parent who was Hungarian and the other Slovakian, were required to choose the nationality of one of their parents. If an agreement could not be reached, the child would automatically become a citizen of the state in which they resided. However, the Slovak government has argued that this provision goes against the country’s Constitution by preventing dual citizenship for children.
It is important to note that while Slovakia has adhered to this agreement from the communist era, Hungary unilaterally declared it invalid in 1999. At the time, the Hungarian government cited concerns about the constitutionality of stripping children of Slovak citizenship against their will as the rationale for their decision.
In addition to ending the agreement with Hungary, Slovakia is also taking steps to terminate a similar agreement with the former Soviet Union, which now only applies to Russia.
Before the termination of the agreement can take effect, the government’s decision must first be approved by parliament. Once approved, the agreement will cease to be valid 12 months after the other party has been formally notified.
Despite this recent development benefiting the Hungarian minority, it is worth noting that Slovakia has historically implemented controversial laws regarding citizenship. In 2010, Robert Fico’s government introduced legislation that prohibits individuals living in Slovakia from obtaining citizenship in another country. This law has raised concerns about its impact on national minorities residing in the country and was initially enacted in response to Hungary’s efforts to simplify the process for Hungarians living abroad to acquire Hungarian citizenship.
While the termination of the citizenship agreement represents a positive step for Slovak-Hungarian families, ongoing challenges remain with regards to citizenship laws and the protection of minority rights in Slovakia.
