Kisebbségpolitikai
On-line Lexikon

During the democratic changes of 1989-90 the need to address the situation of Hungarians living beyond the borders, the question of national responsibility and the demand that the kin-state regulates its relations with Hungarians living beyond the borders within a constitutional framework appeared in the programmes of political parties. Among the foreign policy priorities of József Antall’s government was the representation of the interests of Hungarians living beyond the borders. The democratic constitutional amendment of Law XXXI of 1989 and the adoption of the Fundamental Law of 18 April 2011 included elements of both the political and cultural concept of the nation with the emphasis shifting towards the latter. According to the constitutional amendment of 1989, “The Republic of Hungary feels responsibility for the fate of Hungarians living outside its borders and promotes the cultivation of their relations with Hungary” (6.§(3)). According to Article D) of the Fundamental Law of 2011, “bearing in mind that there is one single Hungarian nation that belongs together, Hungary shall bear responsibility for the fate of Hungarians living beyond its borders, and shall facilitate the survival and development of their communities; it shall support their efforts to preserve their Hungarian identity, the assertion of their individual and collective rights, the establishment of their community self-governments, and prosperity in one’s (their) native lands, and shall promote their cooperation with each other and with Hungary.” The simplified naturalisation Act, the extension of voting rights and a series of laws and measures have been adopted in the spirit of the Hungarian state’s responsibility for the fate of Hungarians living beyond the Hungarian state border.