The list of localities where the proportion of minorities exceeds 15 percent will be expanded by 160 settlements and 300 parts of settlements - the government decree was recently presented by László Bukovszky, Government Commissioner for Minorities, in the committee responsible for national minorities and ethnic groups of the Slovak Parliament.
The decree will be presented to the Slovak government on July 1 and will enter into force on January 1, 2023.
The government commissioner explained that the list was compiled based on last year's census data and the relevant laws.
According to the law, the language of the minority can be used in official communication in settlements where the proportion of the minority exceeds 15 percent in two consecutive censuses.
"Minority language rights are expanding primarily in the settlements in the north-eastern part of Slovakia in the case of the Romani and Ruthenian languages," said Bukovszky.
The list is expanded to include 88 settlements inhabited by Ruthenians, 66 inhabited by Roma, as well as one each inhabited by Hungarians and Germans, as well as 300 parts of settlements.
Bukovszky also informed that the official naming of the settlements in the language of the minority was discussed with historians and linguists who speak the language of the given minority. "During the preparation of the decree, the recommendations of the working group, the linguistic and social aspects were taken into account, and contact was also made with the affected municipalities through a questionnaire survey," added Bukovszky.
Source: TASR/Felvidék.ma
Photo: felvidek.ma / Neszméri Tünde
