The rare occasions, when the Prime-Minister is asked a critical question on one of his Cabinet's numerous controversial causes, he never answers them in a straight manner, but without cessation he refers to the many causes of his predecessor's government or blames the latter. This sole sentence alone has already three big question marks.
While one of the hottest discussions within the EU is, whether Turkey is to become a EU member, meanwhile the broadly accepted approach is, that among others as long as Turkey is not respecting human rights and free press, it is somewhat a paradox that Slovakia, although having entered the EU in 2004, is experiencing serious curbing of its freedom of press. Critical questions during press conferences are simply not permitted. Not only - in case it incidentally happens - the journalist faces either a vulgar ranting (something, which already is a faux pas for any serious politician) or the answer will be a mist of propagandistic monologue of all the other good deeds - where the point of the original question seems lost forever. Lastly, by throwing the blame to a previous government, is not only a bad habit, it is a dilettante manner of behaviour, lowering the level of our dear Prime-Minister to the level of a 5-year old kid in a sandpit. Not to mention the fact, that most of his examples he points at are somewhat irrelevant (or have no logical foundation). Furthermore, he is in charge of the present situation; what is in the past, is irrelevant. He has accepted the role of being Prime Minister of this government, so it is his political responsibility to answer or otherwise be accountable for his policies.
There is however one common thread, which nevertheless is a threat (with a "t"). Mr Mikuláš Dzurinda has indeed some blame to face, despite the fact, that his government was the most democratic in Slovak history - unlike that of Mečiar. After the dark years (1993-1998) after Slovakia turned independent from the Czecho-Slovak Federal Republic where Mečiar's methods of looting and intimidation was a real black page in modern history. Dzurinda's government not only re-established order, it also introduced many necessary reforms - though not always perceived as pleasant at that time - which paved the way, especially economically, for Slovakia to be able to enter the EU. The said reforms, felt by the population was one of the reasons, why his government after some controversies surfaced was punished with a severe defeat. Ever since Mr Dzurinda is having a stigma of being one of the least popular politicians.
Mr Fico - as a politician a pure failure, especially for his contradictory statements, cover up of clear embezzlements, and his open sympathies for the pre-1989 (communist) regimes - is proving to be a sly fox, with a propaganda method directly from Brezhnev's era and a skilled populist. While a few controversies of Mr Dzurinda's government were indeed serious enough, the continuous finger pointing by Mr Fico is at one point embarrassingly repetitious - leave alone that Fico's controversies are of a much graver nature - but it seems an effective measure to keep the opposition cornered and passive like a lame duck.
As Slovaks face elections later this year, Mr Dzurinda's refusal to step down (after the election debacle in 2006 he should have done that much earlier) in order to give back his party some strategic credibility to regain some strength again. Exactly this is the weakest spot of the Slovak opposition.
Dzurinda has given Slovakia much - the mere fact that Slovaks again began to feel proud of being Slovak; successfully becoming an EU member; by economically preparing Slovakia for the Euro, and Schengen (the last two were implemented during Fico's administration, and thus Fico - for a change - is not using this to blame Dzurinda but to compliment himself). Yet the stain of the past is a serious barrier. Since Fico's Government is going to be very destructive for the Slovak society for the long-term, it is necessary to find an immediate alternative. Dzurinda is unfortunately enough the sole reason, because of his slightly egocentric behaviour, why Fico has such a big chance to win. That would be a fatal disaster.
MS
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