Crisis and frustration
After a months-long political crisis sparked by the collapse of Slovakia’s governing coalition and growing public dissatisfaction with the government, Slovak people will go to the polls early on September 30th.
Today’s scenario would not have crossed many citizens’ minds last time they cast their vote in the 2020 general election, held just weeks before COVID-19 began to sweep across the world. Back then Igor Matovič’s anti-corruption OL’ANO party upturned the former political establishment after 12 years of dominance by the same few parties and figures (SMER party, former PM and leader of SMER Robert Fico and the local oligopoly: PENTA, J&T, EPH Group) controlling the country and engaging in questionable financial practices with public funds. Amid frustration at widespread corruption and the shock from the 2018 assassination of Ján Kuciak, an investigative journalist who wrote about the country’s corruption networks, hopes were high with OL’ANO’s election victory.
Today, things look very different. Over the past three years Slovak society has become more polarised, divided, and frustrated than ever. The questionable handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, compulsory vaccination, the strong rise of misinformation channels, the war in Ukraine and refugees that followed, high inflation, and high energy prices have fuelled people’s anger and discontent.
The many let-downs and mismanagement failures of the anti-corruption coalition did little to abate this. This in turn has led to the rise of extreme, right-wing, pro-Russian populists spreading anti-EU and anti-NATO sentiment, as well as the return of the SMER party with former PM Robert Fico and former interior minister Robert Kaliňák. Fico used the public’s frustration and dissatisfaction caused by the pandemic as an opportunity to rise to prominence once again through polarising anti-vaccine rhetoric. Today, during his pro-Kremlin, anti-NATO and anti-EU rallies, many will surely have forgotten that he used to be a strong advocate of both organisations.
Clarity beyond rhetoric
This year, the election campaign is characterised by polarising populist rhetoric, which mostly serves to sway the masses rather than address substantive issues. Slovakia’s actual ongoing struggles are hardly ever discussed in a professional and serious manner.
Seeking clarity beyond rhetoric, I emailed six party leaders four crucial questions that face Slovakia today. From these six candidates I received responses from five which I have published below. Whilst Slovakia remains a small country within the EU, the questions and answers received are relevant to wider Eastern European politics and the region’s main issues. Furthermore, with the war in Ukraine ongoing, the outcome of Slovakia’s elections will matter for the West. The full original transcript of the questions and answers in Slovak will be attached at the bottom.
The responses I received were from the leaders of these three parties: “Hlas” led by Peter Pellegrini (social democrats), “SaS” led by Richard Sulík (centre-right, liberals), “Republika” led by Milan Uhrík (far right, Member of the European Parliament), “Progresívne Slovensko” led by Michal Šimečka (centre-left, left-wing, Vice-President of the European Parliament and also Oxford Alumni) and “Demokrati” led by Eduard Heger (centre-right, conservative-liberal, Ex-prime minister)
The responses
The responses varied in length and depth, and I will offer here a summary:
1. Climate change is one of the most critical issues facing humanity today. In 2019, the European Union approved the “European Green Deal,” which commits EU countries to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. What specific measures could Slovakia take to restart its economic convergence with more developed countries of the EU and simultaneously meet the goals of climate neutrality by 2050?
Considering the EU Green deal and our transition to climate neutrality, one significant point of agreement among the parties is their recognition of renewable energy sources as pivotal in driving the transition to climate neutrality (Hlas, SaS, and Progresívne Slovensko). This consensus is accompanied by a shared commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with specific targets highlighted by Progresívne Slovensko (PS) and Demokrati, aiming for a 60% reduction by 2030.
The parties also acknowledge the EU Green Deal as a critical framework for promoting economic growth. However, they diverge in their interpretations and priorities within this context. Hlas views the Green Deal as a facet of security policy, focusing on energy diversification, technological autonomy, and industrial competitiveness. In contrast, SaS emphasises energy efficiency and home production of electricity, while also advocating for emission permits. These permits are also supported by Demokrati and PS who would like to use the extra income to invest in renewable energy sources. Republika, on the other hand, expresses reservations about the cost implications of green energies and prioritises cheap energy for citizens.
2. According to the Slovak National Bank, life expectancy in Slovakia is one of the lowest in the EU. What three specific steps would you take to improve this trend in the upcoming four years?
Addressing Slovakia’s low life expectancy, the parties again share commonalities and variations in their strategies for the upcoming four years. The consensus across the parties centres on economic growth.
They all recognize a direct link between a prosperous nation and a healthier populace. Hlas proposes decentralising power to regional authorities, aiming to spur sustainable economic development at the local level. Similarly, SaS underscores the importance of economic growth and suggests reducing poverty, particularly among marginalised communities like the Roma population. Both parties advocate for localised strategies to uplift quality of life and overall health prospects.
Recognizing the role of healthcare, all candidates emphasise increased investment in facilities and services. Republika and Demokrati focus on bolstering prevention and health services, accompanied by public education on healthier lifestyles. PS prioritises healthcare accessibility and aims to build university hospitals across the country. Demokrati also calls for a reform of outpatient healthcare provision with a simultaneous focus on the development of long-term, follow-up, and palliative healthcare. Distinct financing models emerge. SaS proposes to implement a payment system for state-insured individuals that is equivalent to 4.5% of the average salary from two years prior, while PS aims to revamp hospital financing through an insurance-based framework.
Mental health and environmental factors are also on the agenda. SaS, PS and Demokrati highlight mental health awareness and want to expand air quality monitoring to address broader health impacts. These sentiments resonate with the broader call for public education and awareness campaigns.
3. In the context of rising interest rates and an ageing population, what is your vision for the development of the Slovak Republic’s public debt over the next three to five years? Please provide specific measures you would implement to manage this debt.
In response to the challenge of rising interest rates and an ageing population, all parties underscore the need to combat structural deficits, reassess public expenditures, and ensure sustainable debt management.
Hlas emphasises the importance of effective utilisation of European funds for investment, while stressing the initiation of public investments from the state budget. SaS stresses the need to utilise budget surpluses to actively reduce public debt, while introducing tax reforms that facilitate economic activities and combat tax evasion. They also aim to reevaluate the pension system and encourage individual retirement savings.
Republika also advocates for tax reforms to support employment and businesses while advocating for a savings-based retirement security scheme. PS highlights eliminating redundant expenditures and streamlining bureaucracy, while wanting to implement institutions that will evaluate every public decision. Similar to Republika, PS also wants more targeted social policies to reduce state spending. Demokrati, suggest short-term stability through expenditure limits, countercyclical policies, and budgetary discipline. For the long term, they propose tax shifts and pension reforms aligned with average life expectancy.
4. Compared to the USA, the European economy is stagnating, and in many areas, it is bound by its own regulations. What needs to change in Slovakia and the EU to make us more attractive to investors and talents in the same way the United States of America are?
The quest to make Slovakia and the EU more attractive to investors and talents, similar to the United States, seems to be a central concern for all parties. Hlas envisions a shift towards a knowledge economy, focusing on innovative domestic businesses. The party emphasises investing in human capital to retain talents and urges involving young people in the economy swiftly.
SaS seeks to create the best business environment among Slovakia’s neighbouring countries. Sas’ plans encompass tax reductions, streamlined regulations, and modernised infrastructure. The party also emphasises educational reforms and labour market openness while wanting to attract foreign academics as well. Republika, on the other hand, stresses the need for competitive input prices and is sceptical about many aspects of the Green Deal. They propose energy policy reassessment and infrastructure enhancements.
PS’s emphasis rests on supporting entrepreneurship, fostering a favourable business environment, and strengthening the European market’s appeal to investors and talents. Their strategies span tax burdens, domestic business reinvestment, European integration, and resilience. Demokrati’s focus aligns with a new growth model centred on innovation and high value. They aim to match living and work conditions abroad, attract foreign experts, open the labour market, and promote entrepreneurship.
Summary
These were certainly not easy or straightforward questions, and it’s interesting to see that amid the polarising political landscape, shared goals emerge in tackling some of Slovakia’s central issues concerning climate change, improving healthcare, managing public debt, and attracting investments and talent. However, their individual strategies differ in areas ranging from investments in healthcare to tax reforms and energy neutrality. These elections hold profound significance for Slovakia’s trajectory, especially in light of the various ongoing crises in Europe and the War in Ukraine. It’s unfortunate that polls indicate a return of the deeply corrupt and recently openly pro-Kremlin SMER party with Robert Fico at its head (SMER being the only party who did not reply to my inquiry). It seems that they will form a coalition with the equally concerning and popular far-right Republika party.
These questions and answers reflect a couple of the many issues in Slovakia, but they also show that there are many ways forward if we work together and focus on identifying the problems that matter instead of wasting time and energy on populist campaign strategies.
When casting their vote in September, voters should think about whether the party they are choosing has a history of concrete competent solution-making, successful cooperation and non-polarizing communication, or whether it is known to have worked in favour of a network of rich individuals, to have spread hate-speech and to have used aggressive populist rhetoric.