Svatopluk I becomes 'first Slovakian King'

Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has named Svatopluk I, King of Great Moravia in the 9th century, as the "original Slovak" and the first Slovakian king. At that time, Great Moravia included parts of modern Hungary, Poland and Austria. Tibor Kis raises his eyebrows: "Experience shows that politicians in eastern central Europe don't exactly seek scientific kudos when they turn their gaze toward historic roots. The invocation of a supposedly glorious past is more likely to cause concrete problems. It's been quite a while since political manipulation of history in this region was an innocent game. Is it any wonder that the Hungarian minority sees disastrous clouds approaching in Slovakia's minority policy?"

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