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Is your national anthem a criminal record? It could be in Slovakia after law voted in 'by mistake'
Source: Euronews
Is your national anthem a criminal record? It could be in Slovakia after law voted in 'by mistake'
By Rachael Kennedy • last updated: 08/04/2019 - 15:25
Slovakian politicians are appealing to their president to veto a new law banning foreign national anthems that they say they voted for "by mistake".
The law specifically criminalises playing a national anthem other than the anthem of Slovakia at a number of public events, unless a member of a foreign delegation is present.
Such an offence could carry a fine of up to €7,000 if it comes into effect in mid-May.
-snip-
It was pushed forward by the far-right Slovak National Party (SNS), and was in direct response to the use of a modified symbol on the new uniform of the country's ice hockey team.
But, unbeknown to a number of politicians, the amendment included an article detailing the proposed restrictions to national anthems.
-snip-
By Rachael Kennedy • last updated: 08/04/2019 - 15:25
Slovakian politicians are appealing to their president to veto a new law banning foreign national anthems that they say they voted for "by mistake".
The law specifically criminalises playing a national anthem other than the anthem of Slovakia at a number of public events, unless a member of a foreign delegation is present.
Such an offence could carry a fine of up to €7,000 if it comes into effect in mid-May.
-snip-
It was pushed forward by the far-right Slovak National Party (SNS), and was in direct response to the use of a modified symbol on the new uniform of the country's ice hockey team.
But, unbeknown to a number of politicians, the amendment included an article detailing the proposed restrictions to national anthems.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.euronews.com/2019/04/08/is-your-national-anthem-a-criminal-record-it-is-in-slovakia-after-law-voted-in-by-mistake
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Link to tweet
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Source: Washington Post
Slovak lawmakers voted to criminalize foreign national anthems. Now they say, whoops, can we cancel that?
By Emily Tamkin April 8 at 10:00 AM
Traditionally, a presidential veto is seen as a sign that the president is overriding the wishes of the country’s lawmakers.
But in outgoing Slovak President Andrej Kiska’s case, to veto a law that a majority of lawmakers voted for last week would be to do them a favor.
Slovakia’s far-right Slovak National Party or SNS put forth an amendment to protect Slovak state symbols — but also included an article on national anthems that many lawmakers seem to have missed.
The law, should it come into effect next month, would criminalize playing any national anthem but the Slovak one at public events on certain occasions — for example, public holidays — unless a member of a foreign delegation is at the event. The law also carries a fine of 7,000 euros ($7,890.).
The law was seen as an outrage in neighboring Hungary (“OUTRAGEOUS! SLOVAKIA BANS SINGING THE HUNGARIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM!” read the headline in Daily News Hungary, an English-language outlet). Hungarians make up about 9 percent of the population of Slovakia and are the country’s largest ethnic minority. The roughly half-a-million strong Hungarian minority could be fined thousands of euros for singing the Hungarian anthem at a match of FC DAC 1904, a soccer team based in what is now southern Slovakia with a large ethnic Hungarian population.
-snip-
By Emily Tamkin April 8 at 10:00 AM
Traditionally, a presidential veto is seen as a sign that the president is overriding the wishes of the country’s lawmakers.
But in outgoing Slovak President Andrej Kiska’s case, to veto a law that a majority of lawmakers voted for last week would be to do them a favor.
Slovakia’s far-right Slovak National Party or SNS put forth an amendment to protect Slovak state symbols — but also included an article on national anthems that many lawmakers seem to have missed.
The law, should it come into effect next month, would criminalize playing any national anthem but the Slovak one at public events on certain occasions — for example, public holidays — unless a member of a foreign delegation is at the event. The law also carries a fine of 7,000 euros ($7,890.).
The law was seen as an outrage in neighboring Hungary (“OUTRAGEOUS! SLOVAKIA BANS SINGING THE HUNGARIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM!” read the headline in Daily News Hungary, an English-language outlet). Hungarians make up about 9 percent of the population of Slovakia and are the country’s largest ethnic minority. The roughly half-a-million strong Hungarian minority could be fined thousands of euros for singing the Hungarian anthem at a match of FC DAC 1904, a soccer team based in what is now southern Slovakia with a large ethnic Hungarian population.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2019/04/08/slovak-lawmakers-voted-criminalize-foreign-national-anthems-now-they-say-whoops-can-we-cancel-that/