Around 50 people gathered at a rally under the slogan ‘We Like This Country’ on SNP Square in Bratislava on January 1, expressing their desire for a change in Slovak politics, the TASR newswire wrote.
The event was organised by political activist Alojz Hlina and supported by Pavol Frešo, the current Bratislava Region President and Ondrej Dostál, the vice chairman of the Civic Conservative Party (OKS). The rally was also designed to celebrate the New Year and mark the 17th anniversary of the founding of the independent Slovak Republic.
Hlina told TASR that one of his personal New Year wishes is that “people like [Slovak National Party chairman Ján] Slota and what they epitomise will no longer appear in political positions”.
Dostál told TASR that until now he had not celebrated the anniversary of the founding of the independent Slovakia. “It's mainly because of the people with which it was connected. People like this are ruling this country again now, and I don't mean people with whom I would have different opinions, but people that do things that shouldn't be done by politicians. And we came here to say that this country doesn't belong only to them but to us as well,” said Dostál.
“As a citizen I support a change occurring in 2010. I'm here as an ordinary man who believes very strongly that democracy will allow the ascent of a decent centre-right coalition (following the parliamentary elections this coming summer) that will be pursing not socialist but people’s policies,” said Frešo. TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
5. Jan 2010 at 14:00
