Slovenian minority rep in Hungary sees infrastructure as priority
Budapest, 18 February - The representative of the Slovenian community in Hungarian parliament Erika Köleš Kiss wants to focus on improving infrastructure in Slovenian villages in the south-western region of Porabje, building a sewage system and renovating a church in Apátistvánfalva/Števanovci before the end of her term, she told the STA.
Köleš Kiss is half way through her third term, which will be her last as she does not intend to run again.
She also wants to continue her efforts in education and secure additional funds to update school curriculums in bilingual schools. In the last ten years two bilingual schools in Porabje and several kindergartens have been renovated, Köleš Kiss said.
The minority representative wants to make Slovenian cultural events more accessible and improve the cooperation between Slovenian minority organisations in Hungary and organisations in Slovenia.
She will strive to increase the visibility of the Slovenian community in Hungary. Köleš Kiss believes it is essential that the Slovenian minority is recognised equally in the system of ethnic minorities in Hungary.
She said the act on minority rights significantly improved the situation of the minority but in the last few years the pandemic, war in Ukraine and the economic crisis made it more difficult for the minority to draw additional funds and develop the community.
Köleš Kiss was first elected as the representative of the Slovenian community when Hungary first introduced the minority representatives to the parliament. She was re-elected in 2018 and 2022.
The Slovenian community in Hungary has around 3,000 members and has the status of an autochthonous minority. The representative in the parliament does not have the right to vote but can take part in the legislative procedure and propose measures to improve the position of the minority.