OMRI DAILY DIGEST
No. 211, 31 October 1996

SLOVAK PRIME MINISTER ON MINORITIES. Speaking in a televised debate on
30 October, Vladimir Meciar asserted that human rights in Slovakia are
guaranteed by legislation and institutions, CTK reported. Meciar said
the controversial penal code amendment on the protection of the republic
will be reworked to ensure the safeguarding of the country's
sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity. He rejected the
increased demands from the Hungarian minority, stating that half of them
are actually Roma. Noting that he would like to see a comparative study
on the position of minorities in other European countries, Meciar said
"Slovakia will not become a guinea pig for Europe." He added that he
believes double standards are applied to Slovakia, while the country's
accommodating approach toward minorities is evidenced by the growth of
such groups. -- Sharon Fisher

HUNGARY'S NEW MINISTERS PLEDGE REFORM. Two socialist officials, Judit
Csiha and Szabolcs Fazakas on 29 October were appointed ministers
without portfolio for privatization and minister of industry, trade, and
tourism, respectively. The appointments come in the wake of the recent
dismissal of Tamas Suchman from both posts following a privatization
scandal (see OMRI Daily Digest, 7 October 1996) Csiha, formerly state
secretary at the Justice Ministry, pledged to make the privatization
process more transparent to the public. Fazakas--who was administrative
state secretary of industry and trade and Hungary's ambassador to
Germany--said he wants to rename his ministry the ministry of economy
and pursue a policy of export-driven growth and economic stability. He
is the fourth minister of trade and industry of the Horn-cabinet. --
Zsofia Szilagyi

SCANDALS SHIFT POPULARITY RATINGS OF HUNGARY'S POLITICAL PARTIES. The
opposition Young Democrats have caught up with the senior governing
Socialist Party in popularity (15% each), closely followed by the
opposition Independent Smallholders' Party (14%), Magyar Hirlap reported
on 31 October. The junior coalition party, Alliance of Free Democrats,
takes fourth place with 7% of the votes in a poll by Sonda Ipsos polling
agency. Other parliamentary parties received 5% or less. The poll
reflects the impact of the recent privatization scandal on the governing
parties' popularity, as well as that of the opposition parties--in
particular, the Young Democrats with an increase of 3% in a month. --
Zsofia Szilagyi

[As of 12:00 CET]
Compiled by Valentina Huber