NATIONALIST POPULISM AND POST-COMMUNISM

4.2.2. Electoral success of the political parties exploiting nationalist populist language The right for self-determination played an important role in the programmes of several political parties. The HZDS based its election programme and the future development of Slovakia on the “struggles for the rights of the Slovak Nation” 116 . Accordingly, the KDH declared that it wanted to build a cultural policy based first of all on the “heritage of the Slovak national culture” 117 . The most evident adherent to economic nationalism was undoubtedly the SDĽ, which aimed for a clear separation from the official economic policy performed by the KDH and VPN. SDĽ leader Peter Weiss clearly rejected the “subordination (of Slovakia) to the global capital” 118 . A certain anti-Western attitude was also noticeable in his statement that “Slovakia should not be in the position of a poor relative” who “receives loans only for supporting an inefficient tourist industry or imports of Western goods of a dubious quality” 119 . The political parties were also cautious when handling the issue of animosity toward “others”. Peter Weiss’ (SDĽ) reaction to the accusations from the Czech side concerning the increase of nationalism in Slovakia may be considered as a nationalist populist counterattack: “we are aware of the existence of Czech nationalism and chauvinism” 120 . On the other hand, the SNS openly appealed to its potential voters with a clear message: “a Slovak citizen has the right to decide whether he wants to spend his life as a citizen of an unsovereign administrative semi-colony, or as a free inhabitant of a sovereign state and a self-governed village” 121 . The elections held in June 1992 showed that the parties employing nationalist populist slogans in their programmes were successful. As far as the election results are concerned, such parties occupied the first four positions. The process of the government formation reflected the election results. The minority government composed from ministers of the HZDS was significantly supported by the SNS, but also by the SDĽ. Although the SNS became the coalition partner of the HZDS only a few months later, one of the SNS leaders – Ľudovít 116 ProgramHnutia za demokratické Slovensko, Desatoro volebného programu hnutia za demokratické Slovensko, leaflet. 117 “Volebný program KDH“, Slovenský denník (May 5, 1992). 118 Peter Weiss, “Za ľavicovú voľbu pre Slovensko“, Dokumenty prvého zjazdu SDĽ . (Výkonný výbor SDĽ, 1992). See also “O čo sa usiluje Strana demokratickej ľavice“, Dokumenty prvého zjazdu SDĽ . (Výkonný výbor SDĽ, 1992), “Východiská hospodárskej a sociálnej politiky SDĽ“, Dokumenty prvého zjazdu SDĽ . (Výkonný výbor SDĽ, 1992). 119 Ibid. 120 Peter Weiss, “Za ľavicovú voľbu pre Slovensko“, Dokumenty prvého zjazdu SDĽ . (Výkonný výbor SDĽ, 1992). 121 Slovensko 1992 , Slovenská národná strana (máj 1992).

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