NATIONALIST POPULISM AND POST-COMMUNISM

Vladimír Mečiar clearly opted for Slovakia’s independent path in approaching the European Communities – otherwise, Slovakia would be considered only as a “region” and the Slovaks as an “ethnic group” 133 . Mečiar was also excellent at passing on the responsibility for any problems he faced to someone else. For instance, when referring to the negotiations on the future status of the CSFR, he argued that the “hawks” on the Czech side preferred anything else to a “division” of the country, but they were not going to be provided with any “favours” 134 . He also underlined the fact that the bad reputation of Slovakia was spread from “two centres: Prague and Budapest” 135 . Minister of Culture Dušan Slobodník followed the opinion of his party leader in supporting the so-called conspiracy approach: “We have to stop the lies that are spread by irresponsible individuals. Their worldwide campaign is nothing less than a sabotage of the Slovak interests. 136 ” The SNS leaders employed even more antagonistic rhetoric. One of the statements at the SNS press conference held before the elections was that “the Czechs and Czechoslovaks have been robbing the Slovaks for 70 years for different kinds of goods, and even for people” 137 . Anton Hrnko, one of the most vocal MPs in the Slovak National Council blamed the federal institutions for having “destructive implications for Slovakia” 138 . Apart from the SNS and HZDS, two leftist parties – SDĽ and SDSS – also took an active part in the discourse. Boris Zala, the SDSS leader, should be mentioned, who blamed “the Czech side for pushing the Slovaks towards the split of the state” 139 . In order to support his arguments, he pointed to the fact that historically, the Czech political representation “failed to deal with the emancipatory efforts of the Slovak Nation” 140 . 133 Statement of Vladimír Mečiar, HZDS leader, at an election meeting. Pravda (June 1, 1992), p. 2. 134 Statement of Vladimír Mečiar, Prime Minister, during the meeting of the Slovak National Council. Pravda (November 6, 1992), p. 2. 135 “We will be the architects and the nation will be the constructor“, interview with Vladimír Mečiar, PM. Pravda (October 2, 1992), pp. 1, 5. 136 The Sabotage of the Slovak Interests“, interview with Dušan Slobodník, Minister of Culture. Pravda (August 24, 1992), pp. 1, 5. 137 SNS Press Conference. Pravda (March 21, 1992), p. 1. 138 Anton Hrnko’s intervention in a debate on the future shape of the state. Pravda (May 6, 1992), p. 7. 139 Boris Zala, SDSS leader, at the party press conference. Pravda (February 15, 1992), p. 2. 140 The statement of Boris Zala, SDSS leader, at the SDSS press conference. Pravda (March 14, 1992), p. 2.

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