When a gunman shot dead Slovakia’s Prime Minister Roberto Fico this week, despite the pro-Russian leader himself warning that the country was so divided that an assassination attempt was possible, Shock spread throughout the country.
Slovaks have long disagreed on the path their country should take. Should it maintain its traditional ways and friendly relations with Moscow, or embrace liberal values and move closer to the West? However, recent harsh statements from politicians have deepened polarization over the future of the country.
The country of 5.4 million people has seen massive protests mocking Fico’s policies since he returned to power in September after campaigning on a nationalist and eurosceptic platform. I am troubled by this.
Slovakia, which joined the European Union and NATO in 2004, was one of the most enthusiastic supporters of neighboring Ukraine when Russia launched a full-scale invasion in 2022. President Fico, who seeks closer ties with Russia, has vowed to immediately end arms aid to Kiev.
The changes worried many Slovaks who had envisioned a future firmly aligned with the West and the European Union.
Slovakia was once part of Czechoslovakia behind the Iron Curtain. The Velvet Revolution, which began in 1989, brought about the end of communist rule and was quickly followed by the dissolution of Czechoslovakia (the Velvet Divorce), which led to Slovakia’s independence in 1993.
Political scientist Grigory Meseznikov, head of the Institute of Public Affairs think tank in the capital Bratislava, said Slovak society has been divided ever since because of the economic and social inequalities that arose with the transition to a democratic market economy. said. However, he blamed the hostile communication strategies of Slovak politicians for the increase in hostilities in recent years.
“Polarization reflects real divisions in society, but conflict is a function of politicians and a result of their political style,” Mezeznikov said.
Slovakia’s “pro-liberal democracy forces” are in contrast to Fico’s brand of pro-Russian national populism, which is characterized by “extreme rhetoric that provokes hostility and denounces political opponents.” he said.
The wave of protests that swept across Slovakia opposed some of Fico’s core policies, including his plans to overhaul the penal system and take control of Slovakia’s public broadcaster.
Last month, the prime minister said on Facebook that rising tensions in the country could lead to the killing of politicians, blaming the media for stirring up division. He called journalists and liberal Slovak politicians “rats.” He called major television networks, two national newspapers and news websites enemies and refused to communicate with them.
But the tensions did not begin when Fico took office.
The COVID-19 pandemic hit Slovakia particularly hard, with many Slovaks refusing vaccinations and lockdowns, and resisting government efforts at the time to impose them. Fico, a vocal critic of Slovakia’s handling of the pandemic, was detained by police in 2021 for organizing an anti-government rally, which was prohibited under lockdown rules.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has sharpened differences once again, pitting pro-Western Slovaks against those favoring a more conciliatory approach towards Russia.
Government officials have criticized protesters and opposition politicians who oppose Fico’s policies as subservient to what they see as the Western liberal order led by the European Union and the United States.
Jan Lipnican, a 27-year-old software engineer from Banská Bystrica, where Fico remained hospitalized after the shooting, said everyone was responsible for the divisions in society.
“In Slovakia, there’s really no right or left. It’s like populists versus progressives,” he said. “Everyone is accusing each other and doesn’t want to work together. Everyone is trying to polarize.”
Zuzana Isakova, a resident of Bratislava, said on Friday that society should “recognize that we cannot create such a hostile environment and that both sides should do some self-reflection.”
Still, Mr. Fico’s political allies are keen to lay blame on his opponents for the attack.
Interior Minister Matusz Stasi Estok said on Thursday that the suspect in the shooting had cited dissatisfaction with Fico’s policies as a motive for the attack and had recently taken part in anti-government demonstrations. Estoque said the man had been “radicalized” by liberal politicians and accused the media of inciting what he called “politically motivated attacks.”
“We are on the brink of civil war,” Estoque said. “The attempted assassination of the prime minister confirms that.”
Some Slovak leaders are trying to de-escalate tensions and avoid assigning blame. Outgoing President Zuzana Caputova said at a press conference on Thursday that the division is an issue for which all the country’s leaders are responsible.
“As a society, we live in a time of much conflict, but please don’t let it rise to the level of hatred,” she said. “What happened yesterday was the act of an individual. But the tense atmosphere of hatred was our collective effort.”
But some have directly accused Fico’s adversarial narrative of turning people against each other.
“This society is divided because of Robert Fico and his Smer party, and they have divided and radicalized society, and I think this is the result of all that,” said Marian Klich, a resident of Bratislava. Told.
“We are living in a Russian information war in Slovakia,” Kulich added. “Russian propaganda has influence here and people believe disinformation. Society has been divided for a long time, and this also radicalizes society further.”
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Associated Press reporters Stanislav Hodina in Prague and Bela Shandersky in Banská Bystrica, Slovakia contributed reporting.
