This election will be about extremism

The stakes are high, times have changed, but ruling politicians are using the same, failed playbook.

Protest against the far right ĽSNS in Levoča. Protest against the far right ĽSNS in Levoča. (Source: SITA)

Could the result of next month's election mean that fascists become part of the government in Slovakia?

Related article A government with ĽSNS: How likely is it and what would it mean? Read more 

The panicked reactions – at least among those not inclined to support the far right – to the most recent Focus poll have prompted this question, particularly after the polling agency’s director Martin Slosiarik did not rule out that the ĽSNS might even end up winning the election.

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

Begging voters to stay

Indeed, the sight of ĽSNS on 13.6 percent, just behind first-placed Smer with 18.7 percent, is disturbing. The recent events around the former general prosecutor, and the way Smer is running its campaign, provide little reason for optimism, despite the vehement protests that ĽSNS faces whenever it organises meetings and rallies.

SkryťTurn off ads

It is striking that support for ĽSNS has grown just as support for the ruling Smer and Slovak National Party (SNS) has slumped.

The two parties are aware of this connection, as can be seen from the reactions of their politicians to the poll results: SNS and Smer politicians have appealed directly to their voters not to desert them for the far right party. Smer MP Erik Tomáš seemed to be speaking to disappointed Smer voters when he appeared on a political discussion show on the TA3 news channel on January 19 and insisted that Smer would not form a government with ĽSNS.

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

The New Stations of the Cross combine old and new.

New Stations of the Cross to combine surviving remains and contemporary architecture.


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