Slovak groping.
What all is included in the pre-election rhetoric is extremely difficult to guess. Even we in the Czech Republic have become accustomed to dozens of proclamations and promises that have never been fulfilled and often even turned into the opposite. Now it is the Slovak political scene where the stakes are high and promises are not spared. It is a game of indiscriminate and quite harsh. The physical skirmish between the former prime minister and the former interior minister was rather an embarrassing media bubble, carrying Balkan-type publicity. But a number of other outlets on social media, and elsewhere, suggest that the mood in Slovakia is partly in favour of reminiscence and retrospection. And that the formerly visible inclination towards a Western understanding of economics and politics is less apparent and rather bland. It will be very important to see how many voters manage not to succumb to pessimism and personal despair and turn out to vote. It is not a straight fight between young and old, smart and uneducated, rich and poor. Rather, it is about a willingness to take an active part and build on the good that has been achieved in Slovakia in the past. And to reject the tendencies that are pushing Slovakia more towards totalitarianism. So far, it is Robert Fico's Smer that is leading the polls. The question, of course, is its coalition potential. And that is unclear. Two other political entities will have a say in the future of our eastern neighbours, namely Progressive Slovakia and Peter Pellegrini's Voice of SD. The vote may be the deciding factor, given the balance of power. If he will indeed be third on the tape, who will he join, and under what conditions? And not only him, but also the other five political groups, which, according to polls, have more than five percent voter support. Only former Prime Minister Igor Matovic would have a problem, as he would need a seven percent gain with his OLaNO, which is made up of several entities.
Stability, order and social certainties is the slogan Smer is using to mobilise its supporters, hoping it will not succumb in the run-off as it has in the past. Slovaks should evaluate their experience of the past years, assess the credibility of the promises and those who make them. And decide on their future. The outcome of the Slovak elections will be very important for the Czech Republic as well.
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