THE INDEPENDENT Civic Democratic Youth (ODM) association started an anti-Robert Fico campaign on March 14 entitled "If they attack you with Fico, fight back with reason".
Robert Fico is the leader of the opposition social democratic Smer party, which leads by a large margin in the polls, but has been faulted by political analysts as lacking professional experience and economic expertise.
"Robert Fico was, is and always will be a communist in his heart, and communists and populists should not be allowed to determine the path this country takes," said ODM Chairman Vladimír Škola for the SITA news agency.
Škola said that the ODM is not connected to any party, and that it wishes to remain politically independent. The group has been operating for 15 years and unites young right-wing people. Fico remains Slovakia's most popular politician, and his Smer party enjoys above 30 percent voter support, according to recent opinion polls.
The ODS campaign is running at www.antifico.skF, and includes stickers saying "If attacked by Fico, wash your eyes out with clear water", "Danger of brainwashing", "Danger, slimy surface", and "Thank you for not trusting him", as well as cartoons bearing Fico's statements. The ODM wants to appeal particularly to young voters, who tend to support Smer, to think carefully before casting their ballots for Fico. In 1998 the ODM ran a similar campaign against then-PM Vladimír Mečiar.
- Martina Jurinová
