Anton Paulik begins third term as Slovak nationality spokesperson in the Hungarian Parliament

21.05.2026

Anton Paulik remains the parliamentary spokesperson of the Slovak nationality in Hungary. Following the parliamentary elections in April, he is taking on this role for the third time and will continue to represent the concerns of the Slovak minority in the Hungarian National Assembly during the new legislative term.

The Slovak nationality list, once again headed by Paulik, received 904 valid votes. The election took place under particular political circumstances: due to the heated campaign by the political parties, many people deregistered from the lists of nationality voters. At the same time, the historically high voter turnout of almost 80 percent changed the conditions for obtaining a preferential mandate for the nationalities.

Unlike in the previous two legislative terms, there will be no nationality MP with full voting rights in the new parliament. This also changes the political room for manoeuvre of the nationality spokespersons. While a nationality MP was previously able to submit amendments directly in the plenary, parliamentary work will now rely even more strongly on the Committee on Nationalities.

Paulik makes clear that this situation is not entirely new. Already during the first legislative term in which nationality spokespersons were represented in parliament, there was no nationality MP with full voting rights. What matters now, therefore, is that the Committee on Nationalities retains its powers. As a standing committee of parliament, it remains an important instrument for bringing the interests of the nationalities into the legislative process.

The position of the committee chair within the parliamentary structure plays a particularly important role in this context. Of particular importance is the chair’s membership in the so-called House Committee (Házbizottság), which decides on the schedule and agenda of parliamentary sittings. If this involvement remains in place, Paulik does not expect any fundamental changes in cooperation.

For the new legislative term, the priority is now to establish reliable channels of communication. Paulik intends to make the previous work of the Committee on Nationalities visible to the new political leadership and to create a common basis for dialogue at an early stage.

For the Slovak community in Hungary, concrete issues remain central: the long-term financing of minority institutions, the further development of scholarship programmes for future nationality teachers as well as for pupils and students, and the implementation of strategic projects. These include the planned Slovak Cultural Centre in the premises of the former church of the Slovak Evangelicals on Rákóczi Street in Budapest.

The AGSM in FUEN congratulates Anton Paulik on his re-election and wishes him every success in his work during the new legislative term.