The state secretary in charge of policies for Hungarian communities abroad, Arpad Janos Potapi has said that Hungarians in Sweden will remain ambassadors for their country throughout their lives.
He was speaking at an assembly of the the diaspora community in Halleberga, Sweden on the 25th of May, 2024 during the 50th anniversary celebration of the Association of Hungarians in Sweden (SMOSZ).
Founded in 1974, SMOSZ keeps alive the heritage of the 1956 uprising by helping Hungarians living in Sweden preserve their language, culture, identity and traditions; and creates a cultural bridge connecting Hungarians in Sweden and the Carpathian Basin.
Mr Potapi noted that in recent years, Hungary’s government has done a lot to ensure that the Hungarian community in Sweden can grow and strengthen. He cited the renovation of the Hungarian House in Stockholm, the support of Hungarian weekend schools, and the purchase and expansion of the youth camp in Halleberga.
There are about 33,000 to 35,000 Hungarians living in Sweden. They started moving to the Kingdom of Sweden from the 16th century, and their emigration accelerated from the 20th century. After the 1956 revolution was crushed, Sweden took in 9,000 to 10,000 Hungarian refugees. They established their secular organisations and the Catholic and Protestant congregations. From the 1980’s, 7,000 to 8,000 Hungarians fled to Sweden from Ceausescu’s regime from Transylvania and found a new home there.
Source: The Budapest Times