A Fascist Party Gets Into the Slovak Parliament

[Vissegaard]

Yep, we had elections this weekend. And, well...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/ruling-leftist-party-heading-for-win-in-slovakia-election/2016/03/05/c02d0c7a-e343-11e5-8c00-8aa03741dced_story.html

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/106fdaf2-e46e-11e5-ac45-5c039e797d1c.html#axzz42UzPEeGe

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/marian-kotleba-who-neo-nazi-whose-party-won-first-seats-slovakian-elections-1548008


This was really kind of a bitter outcome. The good thing is, that the single-party government of SMER-SD (A party left on the economical scale, but ultra-conservative on the social one - you can imagine how I hate it) is maybe gonna be replaced. On the other hand, Mr. Kotleba's ĽSNS has made it to the parliament.

Now, who is this man and what are his goals? I probably won't try to force my views onto you, so try to get a picture yourself: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marian_Kotleba
What is not-so-shocking is that most of the first-time voters have voted for this man (22.7%). It can be understood quite simply, why would they decide the way they did.

Mr. Kotleba and his party offer a rather simplistic view of the reality. It can be summed up to these few points:

- EU and the Western world are corrupt and decadent.
- Slovak Gypsies are "parasites".
- Russia is the new hope for the Slavic nations in the international politics.
- Islam is a massive threat to the Central European way of life.

Your standard familiar ultra-nationalist rhetoric. But it doesn't end here. Mr. Kotleba has expressed admiration for the "Great Peacemaker" Adolf Hitler on the occasion of A.H.'s birthday, likes to dress in HG fascist uniforms, uses the "Na stráž!" (Slovak equivalent of "Heil Hitler!") salute and openly venerates the WW-2-period fascist state of First Slovak Republic. I find it thoroughly disturbing to see him and his buddies in the parliament.

I think the main reason, why people actually voted for this man is that he was able to mark an enemy outside their own ranks and scream really loud about it. People don't like to hear "your troubles are your fault", "you need to change your habits", "you need to fix it yourself". They find it reassuring, that suddenly the evil Jews and Muslims are supposedly the cause of all their suffering.

My personal opinion on this is very, very grim. Although their influence is low at the moment, politologists predict that if there is a premature election, it will grow steeply. And they're not the only party with such rhetoric. O2H, Sme Rodina, Vzdor Kysuce or even the communist Vzdor-SP share their positions on nearly everything, and while they are small, together they make up a considerable political force.

I don't like it. I really don't.

[Trigori]

Well, that's democracy for you.

[Vissegaard]

Well, that's democracy for you.

Do I seem like a democrat to you?

[Trigori]

Well, that's democracy for you.

Do I seem like a democrat to you?

Haha, no, what I meant is that if you allow people to vote and don't ban extremist parties, sooner or later something will happen that will push those parties into the parliament.

[Vissegaard]

Do I seem like a democrat to you?

Haha, no, what I meant is that if you allow people to vote and don't ban extremist parties, sooner or later something will happen that will push those parties into the parliament.

Very possibly. Just one more argument for the return of the Habsburgs.

[Trigori]

Anyway, I think more situations like this will follow across Europe due to the current problems.

[Allet Klar Chefs]

Haha, no, what I meant is that if you allow people to vote and don't ban extremist parties, sooner or later something will happen that will push those parties into the parliament.

Very possibly. Just one more argument for the return of the Habsburgs.

lol they couldn't even get along with the Czechs, why would an Austrian do better?

[USHALLNOTPASS]

welp...maybe Donald Drumpf will 'sue' them for copying his 100% original nationalistic views.

[Vissegaard]

Very possibly. Just one more argument for the return of the Habsburgs.

lol they couldn't even get along with the Czechs, why would an Austrian do better?

There still the historical legitimacy to their claim, but I feel that this is getting off-topic.
The real problem is that with the growing support for ĽSNS, Slovakia won't be able to get along with anyone at all in short time.

[Mugrul]

This happened in Hungary already, and to a higher extent.

[Vissegaard]

This happened in Hungary already, and to a higher extent.

True. Doesn't make me feel any safer, though.

[USHALLNOTPASS]

This happened in Hungary already, and to a higher extent.

Emotions get in the way of everything

[Mugrul]

This happened in Hungary already, and to a higher extent.

True. Doesn't make me feel any safer, though.

Do you live in Slovakia? I mean this is about Eastern Europe, where civil society isn't as developed, and xenophobia isn't as negatively viewed. If you don't live there you should be ok.

[Vissegaard]

True. Doesn't make me feel any safer, though.

Do you live in Slovakia? I mean this is about Eastern Europe, where civil society isn't as developed, and xenophobia isn't as negatively viewed. If you don't live there you should be ok.

I do positively live in Slovakia.
You're right that many people are xenophobic here.

[Mugrul]

Do you live in Slovakia? I mean this is about Eastern Europe, where civil society isn't as developed, and xenophobia isn't as negatively viewed. If you don't live there you should be ok.

I do positively live in Slovakia.

Oh well, sorry.

[Trigori]

This happened in Hungary already, and to a higher extent.

True. Doesn't make me feel any safer, though.

You're not Hungarian or Roma, so I think you should be safe...

[The Qeiiam Star Cluster]

Make Slovakia great again!

[Vissegaard]

True. Doesn't make me feel any safer, though.

You're not Hungarian or Roma, so I think you should be safe...

And how about your ethnicity?
Maybe I will come on Saturday to help you pack up

But seriously now, Daniel Tupý was white and ended up in a pool of blood on the Danube bank. It's not like they are harmless to the natives.

[Trigori]

You're not Hungarian or Roma, so I think you should be safe...

And how about your ethnicity?
Maybe I will come on Saturday to help you pack up

But seriously now, Daniel Tupý was white and ended up in a pool of blood on the Danube bank. It's not like they are harmless to the natives.

Magyar Királyság 2016!

What, when, who, what is this Daniel Tupý thing? Never heard of it.

[Trigori]

The best leader of Slovakia was Vladimir Mečiar in my opinion.

Oh come on, you got to be kidding me here. That was like the most corrupt leader we ever had and he was downright ridiculous with his music videos.

Actually, the Slovak National party already had represenation in the past. They are successor of cardinal Tiso.

SNS back then is different from the current SNS. They're actually pretty reasonable in terms of nationalist parties- they didn't even really mind the Hungarian Most-Híd party. If you want a successor in policy rather than name, Kotleba's party does the trick better...

[Kubra]

Haha, no, what I meant is that if you allow people to vote and don't ban extremist parties, sooner or later something will happen that will push those parties into the parliament.

Very possibly. Just one more argument for the return of the Habsburgs.

why not a royal family with smaller jaws tho

[Liriena]

A lot of European democracies seem to be flirting with fascist and far-right parties, which is understandable, but not forgivable. Fascism has never made difficult political and social circumstances better.

[Genivaria]

A lot of European democracies seem to be flirting with fascist and far-right parties, which is understandable, but not forgivable. Fascism has never made difficult political and social circumstances better.

They just claim they will and then lock people up who point out that nothing has gotten better.

[Teemant]

A lot of European democracies seem to be flirting with fascist and far-right parties, which is understandable, but not forgivable. Fascism has never made difficult political and social circumstances better.

The thing is that left wing parties abandoned ordinary people long time ago so people who they used to represent are looking for a new party.

[Kelinfort]

Fascism happens when people are afraid. I doubt monarchism would prevent fascism from growing in popularity under such circumstances.

In any case, my condolences.