Strange parallels as Britain and Slovakia go to the polls

‘Who should I vote for?’ Slovak friends sometimes ask. I am in no position to offer advice any more.

The idea of demonstrators waving EU flags in Westminster would have seemed faintly ridiculous before 2016; now it is a common sight at moments of parliamentary drama.The idea of demonstrators waving EU flags in Westminster would have seemed faintly ridiculous before 2016; now it is a common sight at moments of parliamentary drama. (Source: AP/SITA)

At the heart of the Brexit fiasco lies a paradox. The vote to leave Europe has made Britain more European.

This applies to the attitude of its citizens, most of whom (at least in England) gave little thought to their European identity before 2016.

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

The tortured debate over Brexit has left a significant minority more vociferously European now than ever before. The idea of demonstrators waving EU flags in Westminster would have seemed faintly ridiculous before 2016; now it is a common sight at moments of parliamentary drama.

SkryťTurn off ads

But while opponents of Brexit communicate a message of appreciation to Europe, political practices which would be more familiar to Slovak voters seem to have been travelling in the opposite direction.

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

Slovakia marks 20 years since joining NATO.

Slovakia marks 20 years in the Alliance.


Daniel Hoťka and 1 more
Píšem or pišám?

"Do ľava," (to the left) I yelled, "Nie, do prava" (no, to the right), I gasped. "Dolšie," I screamed. "Nie, nie, horšie..." My Slovak girlfriend collapsed in laughter. Was it something I said?


Matthew J. Reynolds
Czech biochemist Jan Konvalinka.

Jan Konvalinka was expecting a pandemic before Covid-19 came along.


SkryťClose ad