Big Business Beneš: “Mafia-Like Network” at the Slovak Land Fund

Hungarians protest in Bratislava against the Beneš Decrees

A former high-ranking government official speaks about a mafia network and organized land grabbing in connection with the Beneš Decrees. Ján Marosz’s allegations have now been confirmed by László Gubík, chairman of the Hungarian Alliance in Slovakia, who believes that the government wants to divert attention from the abuses.

László Gubík drew attention to the abuses associated with the Beneš Decrees (series of laws expelling ethnic Germans and Hungarians, stripping them of citizenship, and confiscating their property under the principle of collective guilt). In a video posted on his social media page, he says that, in his opinion, the governing coalition is trying to divert public attention from the “centrally organized land grab” by amending the Lex Beneš.

In his post, he also pointed out that the position of the Hungarian Alliance is confirmed by earlier statements made by Ján Marosz, the former director of the Slovak Land Fund. Marosz has repeatedly said that

opaque interest groups and “mafia-like networks” could be behind the land expropriations invoking the Beneš Decrees.

In an interview with Napunk, Marosz claimed that an internal network had formed within the Land Fund that deliberately favored certain matters while other owners were unlawfully deprived of their land. In his opinion, in many cases the proceedings were not conducted on a professional basis, but according to political and economic interests.

The former director had previously criticized this practice in an interview with Aktuality.sk. At that time, he said that the automatic application of the Beneš Decrees was both legally and morally problematic, and rejected the principle of collective guilt. He believed that cases should be settled individually on the basis of actual ownership.

In his latest article, László Gubík wrote, citing Marosz’s statements, that the Hungarian Alliance would refer the matter to the ombudsman and the attorney general.

In addition, a list of confiscated properties that can be proven to have been unlawfully acquired by the state will be published.

The party leader emphasized that their goal is to stop the “land mafia,” eliminate legal uncertainty, and ensure that the principle of collective guilt no longer applies.

László Gubík’s statements are thus closely related to earlier statements by Marosz. While the former director of the Slovak Land Fund reported on systemic problems and interest groups based on his experience, the chairman of the Hungarian Alliance is calling for political and legal measures based on this. Both sides believe that the current practice based on the Beneš Decrees not only raises legal problems but also perpetuates social tensions,

especially in minority communities, which is why they consider a more transparent and fairer regulation to be necessary.

Via felvidék.ma; Featured image: Facebook/Magyar Szövetség

The post Big Business Beneš: “Mafia-Like Network” at the Slovak Land Fund appeared first on Hungary Today.

Source link