Deutsche Presse-Agentur
June 14, 2005, Tuesday
09:23:53 Central European Time
Hungarian parliament alters minority law after abuses
Budapest
The Hungarian parliament voted Monday evening by an overwhelming
majority to change the existing law governing minorities to make
abuses more difficult, Hungarian radio reported Tuesday.
According to the new law, only those entitled to vote and who had
previously registered in their local community as a member of a
particular minority could vote, in elections for self-administered
ethnic districts.
Hungary has 13 autonomous ethic groups, the largest of which is the
Roma, with an estimated 500,000 to 800,000 members.
Previously any Hungarian citizen could vote in minority district
elections which led to abuses such as anti-Roma Hungarians voting in
Roma districts to prevent true representation of the Roma.
Other abuses have included failed politicians posing as members of
“exotic” minorities such as the Armenians to gain election.
