PARLIAMENT passed a law on October 23 honouring the contributions made by Alexander Dubček, the leading figure of the Prague Spring in 1968.
The text of the law states that Dubček was instrumental in obtaining democracy, freedom and human rights for the Slovak nation. It was submitted by Smer, the largest party in the governing coalition, and will take effect as of 2009.
Dubček was one of the key members of the so-called reformist communists, who tried to introduce “socialism with a human face”.
But after Warsaw troops invaded Czechoslovakia on August 21, 1968, he was expelled from the Communist Party and lived under constant surveillance by the communist secret police. He returned to politics after the fall of the communism in 1989, but was killed in a car accident in 1992.
Some public opinion pools have found that Dubček is the most respected figure in modern Slovak history. But he also has critics, who point to his communist past, the ČTK newswire wrote.
Parliament has already passed a similar law recognising controversial politician and priest Andrej Hlinka for his role in forming the Slovak nation and state.
