Having been discontented with Fico's government, an entrepreneur set up a new political party to mobilise some kind of massive protest movement. He called it "Freedom and Solidarity" (Sloboda a Solidarita - in short SaS). As a businessman, being pragmatic, and having served as an expert advisor for two Finance Ministers, Richard Sulík seemed to be 'the right guy' for the job: kicking against the overly-corrupted government, that have lead Slovakia into a dead-end. Financially drained, and morally contemptible, a radical change should be inevitable.
The election results - contrary to the projected polls - were therefore far more than surprising, as exactly this SaS managed to unexpectedly enter parliament, with a considerable percentage. Slovak's voters tend to be highly traditionalists, who rather vote for either a conservative right or a social stream (on purpose, I do not use the word 'left' this time, because in fact, there is no truly 'left' player in Slovak politics - where the so-called social democrats seem merely a disguised continuation of the former Communist Party, having no clear affiliation with a social democratic movement). Sulík SaS was therefore one of the greatest hopes, that would give Iveta Radičová the necessary support.
Mr Sulík, during the preceding months has frequently stressed his pragmatism, wanting to do away with old style corrupt politics, playing fair, appealing also to the younger voters for his 'liberal' views. At face value, although his 'liberalism' appeared almost unreconcilable to Slovak reality, his new approach - or perhaps courage - was impressive. Offering a efficient solution is not always acceptable to the public, who remains more impressed by a crook claiming to be a folk-hero than an honest person having a more logical package to offer. In addition, Mr Sulík has made it no secret of having hand-picked his party members; all should be clean, no trace of any suspicious background. It looked promising.
Within a coalition of four parties, who among themselves have a common trauma from the Fico-era, the basic goal was - at least so it seams - to put the country back into order and change the old style politics of sheer nepotism.
As is usual with politicians, having earned high hopes, the reality is quite a shaky balancing act. Sulík has proven in the past few months to be a poor politician - especially for a manager leading a successful company and having advised two ministers, one would expect a far more sophisticated political instinct. A brand-new party entering the political scene has always a slight handicap of being full of rookies, still in need to learn how to behave like a public figure (but a public figure with a mandate and not just a third rate movie star).
Sulík has made a couple of serious faux pas, of which some would be trivial but a couple of them are grave enough. In is current capacity presiding the National Parliament he has seems sometimes unaware of his visibility. Jetting off to Salzburg to have dinner with a prominent businessman, Mr Sulík might consider a 'no problem' since he claims having paid for the private jet himself; The host's reputation however is shedding a different light on the whole matter, and this was a very unfortunate move. Furthermore, Sulík's proclaimed transparency efforts have quickly evaporated as currently two state-secretaries are connected to a relatively lucrative government contract (as being the contractors). Suddenly, Sulík has become less transparency minded and is supporting his party member. There is a serious suspicion of conflict of interest. The traditional Slovak style solution remains as it is; do nothing. No news here.
Mrs Radičová's position is becoming critical - balancing between forces; on the one hand I fully understand her desperate attempt to keep the coalition intact, else new elections will bring, with a high degree of certainty, some unwanted parties back into government. Yet Mr Sulík is becoming an enfant terrible. A ticking time-bomb, putting Mrs Radičová under tremendous pressure.
Slovakia very urgently needs reforms, stability, and this on a long term basis. Fiddling with e.g. whether to apply sanctions imposed by the long criticised Language Act or not without not wanting to abolish it is really not what Slovakia needs. But with Mr Sulík's causes, I wonder, whether Mrs Radičová is indeed in charge. The priorities have become mysteriously less important and trivia has become the main agenda. Hopefully, they will soon see the light and get to their senses.
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