Amazing

The speed of news in politics surfacing these days is accelerating at such a pace, that one can hardly react. The main reason is not so much the quantity, it's rather the contents. It leaves a reader in absolute awe as in how far politics, in particular government, is able to pull their behaviour on the brink of (or even far beyond) ridicule. 

Just to summarise a few highlights: The Slovak Supreme Court excelled with a remarkable verdict, that official documents are not to be seen as information (and therefore no to be disclosed; the public has therefore absolutely no right to appeal on the Free Access of Information), making the already murky decision-making even less transparent as it is. For a so-called democratic EU country, a very bitter but simultaneously a ludicrous explanation. 

Going back a bit further, Slovakia's Foreign Minister Lajčák, in a newspaper interview, called the Hungarian president being arrogant. With all due respect for a minister of Foreign Affairs, but would one expect from a diplomat to openly label another head of state being arrogant? Whether one has perhaps a different opinion; for an interview this is definitively not a suitable quote, especially not for the boss of diplomacy.

Prime-minister Fico still refuses to go into a duel with his main opponents. Call it whatever you like, but what is the least a political leader is expected to do in a democratic state, remains a silly game of hide and seek. Despite some small critical pin-pricks in the press, public television is hardly doing anything to draw attention.

This week, the Slovak Minister of Justice, Ms Petríková was announced as a speaker at the UN conference in Brazil's Salvador da Bahía. A moustached man - definitively not a Ms, but the Slovak Ambassador - appeared behind the microphone, and without any explanation why the announce minister was not able to speak, he read a English text full of grammar errors (seems Slovakia's government has a chronic difficulty to hire a person sufficiently well equipped with Shakespeare's language). For two days this performance was a shrouded mystery - no communication even from the Ministry. Except of some boulevard type of accusations towards the opposition, when inquiring in the matter. just pitiful.

One can really not keeping pace with all these matters and they double and triple each day. One can only stay in awe. One's jaw dropping every time you open the newspaper. How far, is this government able to stretch the patience of the people, making government into a cheap satirical theatre. With one footnote; it is lacking humour. This costly theatre is surpassing it all. It's in one word more than amazing!

MS

The speed of news in politics surfacing these days is accelerating at such a pace, that one can hardly react. The main reason is not so much the quantity, it's rather the contents. It leaves a reader in absolute awe as in how far politics, in particular government, is able to pull their behaviour on the brink of (or even far beyond) ridicule. Just to summarise a few highlights: The Slovak Supreme Court excelled with a remarkable verdict, that official documents are not to be seen as information (and therefore no to be disclosed; the public has therefore absolutely no right to appeal on the Free Access of Information), making the already murky decision-making even less transparent as it is. For a so-called democratic EU country, a very bitter but simultaneously a ludicrous explanation. Going back a bit further, Slovakia's Foreign Minister Lajčák, in a newspaper interview, called the Hungarian president being arrogant. With all due respect for a minister of Foreign Affairs, but would one expect from a diplomat to openly label another head of state being arrogant? Whether one has perhaps a different opinion; for an interview this is definitively not a suitable quote, especially not for the boss of diplomacy. Prime-minister Fico still refuses to go into a duel with his main opponents. Call it whatever you like, but what is the least a political leader is expected to do in a democratic state, remains a silly game of hide and seek. Despite some small critical pin-pricks in the press, public television is hardly doing anything to draw attention. This week, the Slovak Minister of Justice, Ms Petríková was announced as a speaker at the UN conference in Brazil's Salvador da Bahía. A moustached man - defenitively not a Ms, but the Slovak Ambassador - appeared behind the microphone, and without any explanation why the announce minister was not able to speak, he read a english text full of grammar errors (seems Slovakia's government has a chronic difficulty to hire a person sufficiently well equipped with Shakespeare's language). For two days this performance was a shrouded mystery - no communication even from the Ministry. Except of some boulevard type of accusations towards the opposition, when inquiring in the matter. just pitiful. One can really not keeping pace with all these matters and they double and triple each day. One can only stay in awe. One's jaw dropping every time you open the newspaper. How far, is this government able to stretch the patience of the people, making government into a cheap satirical theatre. With one footnote; it is lacking humour. This costly theatre is surpassing it all. It's in one word more than amazing! MS

The speed of news in politics surfacing these days is accelerating at such a pace, that one can hardly react. The main reason is not so much the quantity, it's rather the contents. It leaves a reader in absolute awe as in how far politics, in particular government, is able to pull their behaviour on the brink of (or even far beyond) ridicule. Just to summarise a few highlights: The Slovak Supreme Court excelled with a remarkable verdict, that official documents are not to be seen as information (and therefore no to be disclosed; the public has therefore absolutely no right to appeal on the Free Access of Information), making the already murky decision-making even less transparent as it is. For a so-called democratic EU country, a very bitter but simultaneously a ludicrous explanation. Going back a bit further, Slovakia's Foreign Minister Lajčák, in a newspaper interview, called the Hungarian president being arrogant. With all due respect for a minister of Foreign Affairs, but would one expect from a diplomat to openly label another head of state being arrogant? Whether one has perhaps a different opinion; for an interview this is definitively not a suitable quote, especially not for the boss of diplomacy. Prime-minister Fico still refuses to go into a duel with his main opponents. Call it whatever you like, but what is the least a political leader is expected to do in a democratic state, remains a silly game of hide and seek. Despite some small critical pin-pricks in the press, public television is hardly doing anything to draw attention. This week, the Slovak Minister of Justice, Ms Petríková was announced as a speaker at the UN conference in Brazil's Salvador da Bahía. A moustached man - defenitively not a Ms, but the Slovak Ambassador - appeared behind the microphone, and without any explanation why the announce minister was not able to speak, he read a english text full of grammar errors (seems Slovakia's government has a chronic difficulty to hire a person sufficiently well equipped with Shakespeare's language). For two days this performance was a shrouded mystery - no communication even from the Ministry. Except of some boulevard type of accusations towards the opposition, when inquiring in the matter. just pitiful. One can really not keeping pace with all these matters and they double and triple each day. One can only stay in awe. One's jaw dropping every time you open the newspaper. How far, is this government able to stretch the patience of the people, making government into a cheap satirical theatre. With one footnote; it is lacking humour. This costly theatre is surpassing it all. It's in one word more than amazing! MS

Election Fever

Election time is fast approaching and not only in Slovakia. How refreshing, but also an interesting comparison materials for politics watchers, to be able having access to other foreign television channels or via internet, to see some other habits. Currently, next to the said Slovak developments, I equally follow the upcoming elections of both Britain and the Netherlands as well.

Last night, the BBC aired the first election debate between the leaders of the three parties running for the favour of their electorate. Given the historical fact, that Britain has traditionally been a two party system - only recently augmented by a third player - the debating styles are nevertheless intriguing to follow. The Dutch, equally accustomed to open debates, yet a tiny bit more direct than their counterparts from across the Channel, offer a slightly different flavour, albeit that the discussion partners involved are thoroughly prepared and factual.

Slovakia's offer is, sad to say, a poor contrast to the previous examples, as no serious media debate is available at all. Prime-minister Fico refuses to appear directly in one TV programme with another opposition party leader for a direct discussion. Usually another person is sent to the studio, and for whatever the excuse may be, this is a rather unprofessional behaviour. Not appearing by the British or the Dutch prime-minister in any debate would be a sign of weakness and up-front resignation.

Why Slovakia's case is as depicted, is a combination of many factors; Firstly, there is hardly a tradition in open political debates - formerly, the Communist Party dictated every discussion concerning any imaginable matter relevant to society. This style is, even after 20 years of democracy, joining NATO or EU membership. Society has hardly understood, what democracy is about.

Equally responsible would be the inadequate attitude of e.g. the press, teachers in schools, or even intellectuals. Except from an individual attempts of those, who exceptionally feel committed, the large masses remain uniformly grayish and far from knowledgeable to have at least a clue of how far their democratic principles are at risk. To them, free elections enough to believe that democracy works. The lack of any effective control mechanism, accountability, and not to forget an independent judicial system, has demoted this weak democracy in a totalitarian wolf in sheep-skin.

If free, well-balanced, factual and open debates are fairly non-existent (and even then it is a repetitious monologue of propagandistic or populist mantras), how free then are the elections de facto? In reality, democracy in Slovakia is non-existent. Despite their EU membership, Schengen, and the like. Very sadly, it is a mere "Balkancracy": The 21st century still hasn't arrived yet.

MS

Machiavellian Objectives on Freedom

When analysing Slovakia's red prince Robert Fico - in the meantime holding only the official title of "Prime-Minister" - one can make a fairly accurate educated guess, how this person thinks and what seem to be his ulterior motives. Even, when those analysed outcomes may appear rather retro "pre-1989" soviet styled or totalitarian, it would give an average person a certain feeling of absurdity, such that these thoughts would finally be regarded as too far fetched and far from realistic. Not quite.

Fico has one slight weak point (though this attribute is not exclusively his alone), and that is that he somehow has not the capability to fully cover up certain faux pas. His constant clumsiness is sometimes becoming not just embarrassing, but to a point perhaps even utterly pitiful.

A recent Czech publication where a former Czech social-democratic prime-minister Miloš Zeman, quoted Fico during one of his visits. The quote is not very flattering, as Robert Fico openly admitted that his strategy to win the favour of his electorate is just giving them higher social welfare and not freedom [sic.].

Admittedly, it is not so much of an bolt-out-of-the-blue type surprise. Au contraire. What is comical, that comrade Fico, when directly asked during a press conference about this quote, our dear leader refuses to answer (in fact, he doesn't even deny it), only murmuring that journalists should pose more logical questions. 

The question in fact is more than logical, since the nature of his implication is serious enough, and as a journalist one would certainly have a profound interest to have this confirmed or not. My reaction as a reader is, that I would have preferred a prime-minister, capable of giving a more logical answer. Fico was clearly exposed, especially by his answer. One may have been doubting Fico for a long time, but the more time goes by, the more these doubts are being confirmed by facts.  In addition, the very fact itself, that the source is a politician from the same political spectrum and that Mr Zeman clearly holds a different view as transpires from the article, says enough about the level of Fico's behaviour and even his 'political wit' (...  rather the lack of it)

Comrade soviet style Fico, has proven to have a rather Machiavellian ideas on what to do with Freedom: To ruthlessly trample it, and then cynically laugh society into its face. If only he could at least pretend to have some good manners...

MS

Corruption at full speed?

Recently, the fixed term of the chairman of the Office for Public Procurement expired. Coinciding with the nearing end of the present cabinet, for some vague reasons, the government has rushed a law through parliament, extending the exchange of chairs till after the elections. Personally, I see no logical justification - from whichever angle it may be looked upon - and one may in all earnest wonder what the ulterior motive might be.

Theoretically, one might assume that keeping the present chairman (belonging to the opposition party) in charge would be a more than noble gesture of the ruling regents. Another logical assumption would be that the leaders - who otherwise are thoroughly skilled in bending any possible law and generously stuffing their greedy pockets - would keep a low profile right before the elections. Especially, since Brussels is closely and uncomfortably breathing in the neck of the EU funded projects, or the exposed violated tenders. However, there is a remarkable "but"...

The law is a mere smoke curtain to divert attention; while seemingly (but only pretending) a generous standing, the loop-hole is that while the chairman's mandate is temporarily extended, one article from the competencies of the said office has been omitted; to be able to act in case of a violation. The rationale is that it has not been applied in the past. 

In reality, the authority of the Office for Public Procurement has been clipped to its maximum, being just a lifeless and useless ornament without any effectiveness. While Minister's Tomanová's projects not only receive maximum criticism from Brussels and the EU funding is at utmost peril, Ms Tomanova has shortly before election time managed still managed to issue a major IT order - whether according to the proper rules? Make an educated guess.

It seems that the government has with full consciousness ordered a perfect way to thrust corruption even at far higher speed than it has been ever before. Just a small question to Mr Lajčák... your statement on Slovakia not being a banana republic was just a joke, right?

MS

Rationale, argumentation, logic, debate...

Who hasn't enjoyed fierce debates, where a couple of speakers contested each other's formulation of argumentation, in order to convince the opponent of their point of view? One of the requirements to hold such discussions is that one has the ability to listen to the arguments given and appropriately respond to them. Maybe most will confirm these activities, but lately I have serious doubts, whether enough people have witnessed a balanced debate. 

Debates are useful; since antiquity mankind has seen this as a way to fathom certain truths - even to be informed with perhaps completely new facts, that could contribute to arrive at a conclusion - or (and) to be convincing to your group of followers. It sharpens the mind, as one has to analytically keep track and stay alert. Most of all, basic logic (another Greek word!) is essential. The last few days, I have witnessed a few disturbing things, which has truly made me slightly sombre about the general ability of people around to understand the rules of the debating game.

Perhaps, my previous blog would have been a sufficient show-case; the Supreme Court boss, who blackmails justice and free press to his liking, is wailing about "intimidation" from Western diplomats. Furthermore, last night, a televised discussion programme - traditionally being a critical broadcast, it was finally ousted from the public network, due to some censorship attempts. The theme was about the alarming trends in the Tatra National Park developers' mega projects, causing negative influence on nature. 

In short, two activists and two entrepreneurs were to exchange their views. The whole debate was a useless repetition of the developers nagging of feeling to be put in a bad daylight, while the activists in vain tried to bring up factual trespassing. The entrepreneurs complained of the being the victim of demagogy, politicising the problem, and the like. Even one argument was applied; that the whole process was a democratic process - since the voted for politicians, who knowingly allowed murky practices, were chosen by the people [sic].

Another, and admittedly shocking, observation I came across on Facebook. As we all know, the great Pontiff Ratzinger is somewhat in an embarrassing situation, since it surfaced, that he has been informed from the onset on the child-abuse scandals in the US decades ago. Mgr Ratzinger, who was even then not completely without any influence, preferred to keep this hush-hush. Well, the magnitude of these practices was a bit more serious and more widespread than many would believe, so there is a serious problem. Changing his name to Benedict does hardly absolve him from this sin. In my view, a man having protected paedophile violators is no more than the devil himself. Pope or not. 

Surprisingly, a Slovak group has been created, to support their Pope against all evil attacks.  To give openly support to such a heinous criminal, is an indication how little respect these followers have for the victims, who were defenceless and traumatised for the rest of their lives. Believe it or not; almost five thousand followers.

People can make many mistakes - we all do. But willingly being superficial and ignoring facts is not mere a mistake. Yesterday prime-minister Fico spoke to journalists about a dialogue with the next Hungarian prime-minister, yet warning against any chauvinist-nationalist trends. Eh... what is his neo-fascist coalition partner doing? Need I say more?

MS

Lajčák's error

Politics should be a transparent business; it is where the mandate of the people is taken care of by a group of people that execute this task for the broad public. The core of the whole concept is indeed the mandate: Who gives it to whom, and who is therefore accountable to whom, where those who demand insight rightly get it. 

Admittedly, in reality this is very idealistic, where some other-than-public interests often interfere with the wishful state. Nevertheless countries like e.g. Sweden, New Zealand or Canada, among others, maintain a fairly high standard of this transparency and adhere to the principles more successfully than others do. But then, the people's general sophistication with this subject is essential to up-keep such a status-quo. 

Being aware of basic principles of the game is not just a theoretical subject, when once learned to pass your sociology class to be immediately dismissed to the trivia department. Its immediate appellation by the public once breached is vital for maintaining democracy's survival.

Slovakia is, regrettably, a state, which visibly at all level of government has little interest in any democratic principle at all. Despite perhaps the attempts of a few bona fide individuals, each government transforms the whole administrative system in such a way, that those shortly in power will succumb to maximise the reaping of wealth whilst they can. To this extent, an individual citizen could always demand rectification through legal channels, provided the judicial system will be fully independent.

Here we arrive at a major issue; while prime minister Fico has knowingly sold out the judiciary to a party that has serious interests to undermine justice, the systematic erosion of its impartiality and political pressure among judges has become more and more apparent. This trend finally was even noticed by foreign diplomats, who started to visibly attending and monitoring certain court hearings.

Slovakia has not no reason any longer to belong to be considered a constitutional state. Supreme Court president Harabin has choked justice to death with the blessing of Fico. The prime minister covering every inch of each scandal that pops up. Not only does Harabin extort huge amounts from the critical press to 'cleanse his good reputation' (speaking of which; he hardly had), his remark on the Western diplomat's interest he called it an act of 'spreading fear'. Even up to the point, where the journalists are being blamed of politicising justice (tried to find some sense in that statement, without any success).

Ruthless rulers do often end up, losing sense of reality. Indeed, in the EU it is unusual for diplomats to attend court sessions of other countries, but then, in the EU such gross violations of public interest is equally unheard of. The lamentation of Harabin reminds me of the joke, where a youngster in court, accused of killing both his parents pleads for clemency since he is an orphan. Slovak Foreign Minister Lajčák commented that "Slovakia is not a banana republic". Well, that's somewhat a misjudgement... De facto Slovakia IS a banana republic.

These gross violations, contrary to most corrupt governments, are hardly done in a sly way, trying to conceal. The sheer amateurish stupidity with which they are carried out is surpassing any disbelief. Perhaps the most ironic thing is, they are in fact, presented on a silver tray by the culprits, but the lack of public sophistication in this matter results in a complete apathy.

While 'banana republic' is perhaps to be considered more of an ironic expression, the reality is very harsh unfortunately. Perhaps even worse than we can only guess. Diplomatic pressure is now the only rope we can cling on.

Naive Offers, Naive Choices

The upcoming elections have caused the usual campaigning, where each party tries to formulate its goals, become more than visible; the standard expected objective being the wish to become the most wanted party in order to gain as much as possible number of voters.

The trend - globally speaking - of vanishing borders between the traditional political mains streams, has in most cases resulted in blurred and unclear programmes, where voters would need supernatural skills to find the faintest difference. Whichever political programme one wishes to scrutinise, the current state is not so much whether one prefers liberalism, leftist, outright conservative or whichever, it is in all aspects a question; how realistic are the proposed programme-bullets to be implemented - with a stress on the balance sheet, of how much is it going to cost the national treasury chest.

While ideologies might have been almost a thing of the past, Slovakia struggles with ideologies; It's Roman Catholic trait cannot be overlooked, while similarly, a vast group of economically lesser opportunities cling to the pseudo soviet-styled propaganda of the current prime minister Fico - promising them glorious prospects and a caring mother-state, while at the same time looting the place barren. An ironic mix and mind you; a very stubborn one.

It is therefore too sad to see an opposition, that cannot find hardly any workable consensus to join forces against the present state's mismanagement, when even among themselves they quibble about minute trivias. What I found most repulsive - and repulsive is a mild word - was Ján Čarnogusrký's recent article in one of the dailies. 

Mr. Čarnogusrký was somewhat belonging to a dissident group at the end of the totalitarian era, being mainly persecuted for his strong religious involvements - after the 1989 Velvet Revolution he therefore became one of the leading Slovak figures in politics. It has been somewhat an enigma to me, how this distinguished 'éminence grise' regularly expresses a Russophile opinion. To a degree, were it merely cultural, I could live with it; his openly flirting with the political Russia makes it very equivocal.

Clearly it demonstrates, that the public memory is always very short - while Germany and France have dug their feuds very deeply into the EU soil, Slovakia and Russia seem to have a hidden undertow of attraction. The difference between the former and the latter is the mere fact, that Germany and France in my view are far more decent countries than Russia is nowadays, be it that the Soviet Union is passé. Nevertheless, Russia's behaviour on the world political stage is far from reassuring. Recent terrorist attacks in Moscow or any place else are not a sign of trivia like shortage in foreign cheese or licorice. The memory is not just short, it is a total amnesia, and a dangerous one too.

But Mr. Čarnogusrký's naivety is illustrative, as well as the continuous superficial pricks of political parties show nothing more but an impotent political scene. The parties are all similar to each other, programmes are hardly relevant, and debates are practically non-existent. The alternatives offered are naive and thus the people vote naively too.

Blogger versus Journalist

For an average journalist, life in Slovakia is far from dull. Especially, when this journalist is fully aware of his power as an investigative reporter and his professional ethics demand from him to dig to the ultimate bottom. Politics in Slovakia contain so much controversies, that a journalist could spent 3 lifetimes of daily writing to get the most out of it. Even then it would still be a tip of the iceberg.

Yet, journalism has its function and that somewhat implies, it has its obligations. A modern, open and a democratic society wants to be informed. Must be informed. So, whether you can physically write for 3 lifetimes or not, the job you do (in this lifetime at least), you should do with all gusto; enough lies ahead.

Here we arrive at a certain enigmatic problem; when observing politics and monitoring the media, there is a certain level of uncomfortable feeling arising at the back of my mind: For years we witness increasing corruption (just call it theft), and journalists seem to be happy enough with an evasive answer. The fact that the prime-minister tells you a lie, is hardly a reason to pursue the matter. One question, one answer, thank you prime-minister.

For crying out loud: What's wrong with all of you?!? Has the watchful eye of Justice choked newspapers so much, that being too critical could mean an economic end of a newspaper? In my view, if journalists were to be more persistent and confront the soviet-styled cronies with hard facts, public would be more aware of the dangers. This way, journalists have a co-responsibility, why a prime-minister, who is politically responsible for his criminal cabinet, can again get away with an embarrassing ranting-press conference on a stupid logo or text of the opposition, instead of being held accountable for the billions damage he has been causing to the state. Some kind of collective stance would have been more appropriate; eventually fully ignoring (boycotting) the politicians, staying demonstratively away from say one or two press conferences would dramatically embarrass the present politburo, so they would be a bit more cautious. No, you prefer to play the game.

Journalists nowadays hardly have the skills they should have; instead a bunch of bloggers have demonstrated far superior analytical skills than most of the professional reporters, with more insight in legal matters or thorough economic overview. It is a sad reality, because these bloggers will hardly be able to reach to the majority of Fico-voters, who are cleverly manipulated by Mr Fico's populist propaganda-skills.

A sad realisation. It should have been the other way around. But it isn't. The intellectual level of the nation does not want to move out of the 1950s jacket. The role of journalists has become dangerously compromised. (But, thanks for the few exceptions that persist, be it, that I can count them on one hand).