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Patriotism Act Okayed By Parliament
Tuesday 02 March 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, March 2 (TASR) - The Slovak Parliament passed the Patriotism Act on Tuesday, with the legislation set to come into effect as of April 2010.
A total of 77 MPs out of 122 voted in favour of the proposal. If signed by Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic, the Slovak national anthem will be played mandatorily at the beginning of every session of the Government, Parliament and regional parliaments, as well as at public village events. The anthem will also be played at schools at the beginning of every school week and on the programming of state-owned media.
School curriculums will include the patriotic education, with public schools required to place a national emblem, flag, the text of the anthem and preamble of the Slovak Constitution at every classroom. These items will also need to be present at every place where sessions of local parliaments and Higher Territorial Units (VUC) parliaments are held.
According to the original proposal, people were to swear an oath of allegiance to the Slovak Republic when receiving their first identity cards. The same was expected of MPs, mayors and governors when receiving their decrees. However, Rafael Rafaj (SNS) who drawn up the proposal has made concessions in final amendment - hence, only state employees will be required to swear allegiance to the state.
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