Right before the elections, Fico's soviet style-wannabe government hosted a pathetic megaloman show of the inauguration of Svätopluk's statue. Even Leni Riefenstahl would have been impressed. The speeches were not only embarrassingly stupid, but they were like a certain mirror of the SMER's latent ultra-nationalist tendencies. Perhaps the wishful thinking of Fico to become a true red czar.
Much has been written and criticised about the contents as well as the statue - most of all, the misconception that Svätopluk was a king. Being merely a prince (never a king) in the 9th century, Fico's frequent labelling him as a 'king' (despite many articles from specialist-historians) made it worse than quite a ridiculous appearance. Mind you that the statue indeed has a true royal crown! Moreover, nation states were non-existant in those days as well.
A few days after the elections, the opposition parties consolidated their victory in order to face the difficult task of mending the damage of king Fico's reign. An open communication policy was agreed. Until the leader of the KDH (Christian Democratic movement) yesterday without any consultation with the partners-to-be told the press that it is considering the Vatican Treaty as an important given to be included in the new government's programme....
It has never been my intention to obstruct anyone from practicing his faith. A contraire! But I am allergic to those who try to impose their faith on me. A modern politician - especially since KDH leader Mr Figeľ has spent some time in a politically cosmopolitan milieu of Brussels - it was the last thing I would ever expect. Right now, when we desperately need to clean up the judicial system from Harabin's mafia-like control, where the deficit is in great danger, education needs urgently to be mended, I think that the Vatican is hardly any priority at all.
It seems that in the Slovak fairy-tale land of King Svätopluk, more people suffer from a sence of detachment from reality. Political reality that is. Especially now, when we need to go forward, this makes me very very sad. Are we to expect the Holy Inquisition next? ... How I profoundly dislike superficiality. At home do as you please, but least in public or politics, please behave professional.
MS
PS - a little footnote on our friend Svätopluk; he chased out the Old-Slavic church officials, who came here with Cyril and Methodius.... quite a paradox, that on the one hand, the two missionaries are hailed as saints (with the misconception that they brought Christianity) when the very prince who chased them out and replaced the Latin liturgy is hailed as the greatest King of all Slovaks.... Anyone able to explain to me this "logic"?
It is so stupid one would just laugh and shake one's head.... Unless you're living in this country...
ReplyDeleteOk, maybe it is me putting on a tinfoil hat and seeing conspiracies where there are none, but Mr Figeľ suddenly brining up the Vatican Treaty, quite likely knowing this is a demand that will never be accepted..
And then Fico offering the role as Prime Minister and half the fairy kingdom to him and his party?
"Power is alluring, when it's not outright sexy."
To quote a friend of mine, if we would get four years of Smer-SD and KDH; "The old regime wanted us back in the 20th century. If we get this coalition, we can enjoy a future of 19th century."