Thirty-five days ago, a brief video surfaced on the internet featuring Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, warning that the tension in Slovakia had escalated to a point that could result in the assassination of a leading government politician.
“I am not exaggerating by a millimeter,” Fico declared in the video. His warning proved nearly prophetic, as mere millimeters spared his life from an assassin’s bullets 35 days later.
Fico recorded his ominous message in Michalovce during a joint session of the Slovak and Ukrainian governments. The prime minister criticized the media for fueling the hostile climate, urging the “progressive voter” to engage in “vulgar and aggressive” behavior.
Following the assassination attempt on Fico, Martin Hanus, editor-in-chief of Postoj.sk, commented on the state of democracy in Slovakia.
“Our democracy has transformed into an instinct-driven mockery, where primitive emotions are manipulated not only by politicians but also journalists. We have all mired ourselves in the mud, some deeper than others,” Hanus wrote.
Jaroslav Daniška, editor-in-chief of Standard.sk, reflected on the incident, emphasizing the need for a shift in political culture.
“The essence of politics should be that we do not perceive each other as wolves, set to attack one another. For too long, we have nurtured internal divisions, starting from false teachings and segregating the electorate based on education, as if some could be less moral than others,” Daniška stated.
He highlighted the ongoing issue of societal division, aggression, and the monopolization of disdain and hatred, which has surpassed reasonable boundaries, noting that neither uneducated villagers nor deeply religious people are the ones who set the tone.
“Perhaps we will finally realize that one Slovakia cannot feel morally superior to another. That one part of society cannot call itself more decent and act aggressively towards the other. (…) The cultivation of an enemy’s image has long since crossed reasonable boundaries,” emphasized the Slovak journalist.
The recent events in Slovakia serve as a poignant lesson for neighboring Poland, signaling the urgent need for a reassessment of political and social dynamics to prevent further escalation of violence and division.
