HUNGARIANS BEYOND THE BORDERS GET VISA INSTEAD OF SUBSIDIES

Next year the state subsidies of Hungarians beyond the borders will be reduced drastically but from January 1 they can get so-called national visa to come to Hungary to practice the language, to preserve their national cultural identity, to continue studies outside academic courses, and to keep up family relations.

According to the budget bill for the next year the government wants to spend HUF 9,6 billion to help Hungarians abroad which is 25 less than this year’s sum and the Csángó Hungarians will be excluded from the subsidies. There are serious problems with this year’s subisidies, too, mainly in the educational field, Hunor Kelemen, chairman of the School Foundation claims 67 551 applications affecting about 128 000 children have not been satified because the Hungarian government has not transferred the necessary sum. The chairman said it was Premier Gyurcsány to blame who was insensitive to problems in Transylvania. The special visa to be introduced can be used several time for a stay of over three months but the leaders of the churches in Transylvania urged President Sólyom in a letter to return to the original solution of adopting dual citizenship.

Translated by Péter Szentmihályi Szabó