Eurasia Press & News
Prime Minister Robert Fico called an extraordinary meeting of his Security Council to prepare measures to counter `export of extremism.`
Slovakia accused a far-right Hungarian movement on Tuesday of recruiting ethnic Hungarians in southern Slovakia to stir up trouble and distract attention from Hungary’s own economic problems.
Prime Minister Robert Fico called an extraordinary meeting of his Security Council to prepare measures to counter what he called the “export of extremism.”
The two ex-communist states have often bickered over the half-million strong Hungarian minority in Slovakia. Relations worsened after Fico brought the far-right Slovak National Party (SNS) into his ruling coalition after the 2006 elections.
“A very complicated political situation in Hungary today creates further room for a rise of extremism,” Fico said. “If Hungary has problems, it should deal with them, but it is not possible to have some half-insane neo-fascists marching on Slovak soil.”
He said the far-right Hungarian Guard was preparing to recruit members in southern Slovakia. Founded in 2007, the Guard says it is a civic group that stands up for Hungarian culture and national values. Critics say its black uniform and insignia are reminiscent of the Nazis.
Hungary’s ruling Socialists and opposition Free Democrats are negotiating a deal to name a new non-partisan prime minister to tackle the economic crisis. Budapest had to accept a $25.1 billion IMF-led rescue package last October to avert financial meltdown.
Slovakia and Hungary share much of their history. Hungary ruled Slovakia within the Austro-Hungarian empire until its break-up after World War One, when Hungary lost two-thirds of its territory, including what is now southern Slovakia, and around a third of its population.