Minority Representation as a Mean to Unify the Ethnic Majority? – What is Said and What is Not by Minority Representatives in the Hungarian Parliament

Policies towards national and ethnic minorities in Hungary long served as a model-child for neighbouring countries, so they should treat their Hungarian minorities just as well. The Hungarian state always aimed to present a good model when it comes to cultural rights or non-territorial autonomy. The Hungarian government took a big step forward introducing preferential minority representation in the Parliament in 2014. This paper unfolds how the representatives of the 13 registered minority in Hungary not only accepts, but actively lean into the role of serving as a model-child. Analysing the speeches of two and a half parliamentary terms, it is clearly visible, that the so-called minority advocates systematically refer to the minorities as means to unify the Hungarian nation in terms of hoping to ensure that Hungarians outside the borders are affected by similar and appropriate policies in their home countries. Policies or raises of subsidy amounts are meant to show other countries, how minorities should be treated. And, again, this approach is not just a tool of the government, but quite often, in different circumstances raised by the minority representatives themselves. The aim of the paper is to highlight, how this is very much in contrast with another phenomenon. Namely, that issues, problems or question concerning minorities are almost never articulated in a broader perspective that explicitly concerns the Hungarian society as a whole. Representatives of the minorities are always stick to their own (in this sense particular) interests, which is supported by legislation limiting advocates' opportunities for the act of representation. All in all, minority representation in the Hungarian parliament is effectively separated as regards the topics from the general work of the Parliament but emphatically embedded into the national policy of the Hungarian government.