Vystúpenie podpredsedu vlády Slovenskej republiky pre ľudské a menšinové práva a regionálny rozvoj Pála Csákyho
Presentation of the Deputy Prime Minister of the SR for Human Rights and Minorities and Regional Development Pál Csáky

Author(s): Pál Csáky
Subject(s): Politics, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Globalization
Published by: Research Center of the Slovak Foreign Policy Association (RC SFPA)
Keywords: Slovakia; 2000; foreign policy; Deputy Prime Minister; human rights; Pál Csáky; regional development; minorities; presentation; political system; decentralisation; globalisation;
Summary/Abstract: Only a few days ago, we witnessed a most intriguing phenomenon in the National Council of the Slovak Republic. At final voting "two" anthems were heard - both were sung in the same language, the melodies and lyrics were identical, they were even performed in much the same fashion, although in the first case, the style was more pathetic as opposed to the second one, which was more solemn. On hearing the first version of the anthem, the majority of the MPs of the Slovak Parliament remained seated, despite the state flags that were pinned up by the MPs in the session hall. On hearing the second version, the first and less numerous group of the MPs of the Slovak Parliament was not present in the session hall. I believe that what happened, confirmed, once again, a very straightforward signal about what was happening and what we had all perceived before the signal was sent out. However, some of us were reluctant to perceive it and some even underestimated its implications. To be specific - Slovak politics, Slovak intelligentsia and to a considerable degree, even society per se, are much too fragmented, very different belief systems exist, and because of that, visions of the future of the Slovak Republic vary dramatically. Indeed, the competition of political entities in Slovakia is unlike conventional competition, which is common in well-established democracies. For instance, in the Benelux States, the so-called consensual politics enjoys a rich tradition. In the Scandinavian countries, it is not uncommon to have minority governments rule the country. In the USA, George W. Bush Jr. has approached the representatives of his political rival to join his Government. In Germany, the social-democratic Government has passed restrictive laws in the social area, backed by their conservative opponents.

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