Far right party of Marian Kotleba on trial

Court session concluded, ruling expected on April 29.

Marian Kotleba and LSNS lawyers in front of the Supreme Court senate deciding about the future of  their party. Marian Kotleba and LSNS lawyers in front of the Supreme Court senate deciding about the future of their party. (Source: Sme)

Marian Kotleba has returned to the Supreme Court thirteen years after his first political party was dismissed there, this time sporting a more moderate and distinguished image. In 2006, he and his supporters attracted public attention by, for instance, bringing their guns to the court session on their party. This time around they made do without provocations.

SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement
SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement

Kotleba attended the court session on the General Prosecutor's proposal to abolish his People's Party - Our Slovakia (ĽSNS ), wearing his jacket with a little cross on the lapel, and accompanied with three attorneys of the party.

SkryťTurn off ads

One hour before the session began, a protest gathering against the abolition of ĽSNS with about 300 people in attendance took place in front of the Supreme Court building. The event was peaceful, with no rows or noisy chants. Kotleba, however, did not give up his rhetoric about "putting Gypsy settlements in order" or about "Gypsy parasites" harming society, or about migrants that need to be expelled from the country.

Read also: Eight reasons why the far-right ĽSNS should be dismissed Read more 

He and his lawyers attempted to defend these words in front of the court, and explained why they do not consider them extremist and why he uses them. They read the dictionary definitions of racism and xenophobia to the court, and claimed that their party wants to help everyone, regardless of their nationality or worldview.

SkryťTurn off ads

"'Black' settlements in our view are a group of many illegal constructions," Kotleba said. He, as well as his three lawyers, kept using the word "Gypsy" and "Gypsy ethnicity" throughout the session.

The rest of this article is premium content at Spectator.sk
Subscribe now for full access

I already have subscription - Sign in

Subscription provides you with:
  • Immediate access to all locked articles (premium content) on Spectator.sk
  • Special weekly news summary + an audio recording with a weekly news summary to listen to at your convenience (received on a weekly basis directly to your e-mail)
  • PDF version of the latest issue of our newspaper, The Slovak Spectator, emailed directly to you
  • Access to all premium content on Sme.sk and Korzar.sk

Top stories

News digest: Don't forget- clocks go forward on Sunday

More money from Brussels, US helicopters for Slovakia, and Bratislava airport's warning against fake websites.


12 h
Filip Toška holding chard in the hydroponic Hausnatura farm.

How a Mayan doomsday prophecy took a Slovak to hi-tech agriculture

Hydroponic farm run out of former telephone exchange.


9. mar
A Lutheran priest outside the Lutheran High School in Tisovec in 2007.

US teachers not rushing to teach English in Slovakia due to war

Dozens of Americans taught Slovak students in Tisovec in the past, but the local school is now struggling to find teachers from overseas.


21. mar
PM Eduard Heger announces his new political party, Demokrati, on March 7, 2023.

With his new party, Slovak PM embarks on a mission to unify

After two years as premier of an OĽaNO-led government, Eduard Heger is leaving the populist movement of Igor Matovič and hopes to establish a new political culture in Slovakia.


20. mar
SkryťClose ad