Welcome to your weekly commentary and overview of news from Slovakia. Zelensky speaks to Slovaks. The coalition partners slip into opposition mode. A new protocol with guidelines on gender recognition disturbs conservatives. Bear attacks stir fresh fears.
Zelensky’s speech brings a moment of clarity to the Slovak parliament
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the Slovak parliament last week. As is his style, Zelensky mentioned commonalities in the countries’ histories (in Slovakia’s case, Czechoslovakia’s occupation by its neighbours in 1968), but also spoke to people’s deepest fears: if Russia isn’t stopped in Ukraine, it will progress further – and repeat its war crimes – “mainly on the territory of your state”. He thanked Slovaks for helping Ukraine and encouraged their state representatives to continue doing so, particularly in the effort to protect Ukrainian skies. Send planes and helicopters, he asked – and Slovakia might indeed send some of the latter.