Slovakia Cements its Desire for Change

Unemployment and a sluggish economy are two of the main challenges for the new government

After the second-round of Slovakia's presidential election, it has become clear that Slovakia is committed to putting the past behind them and face the new millennium with new hope. Vladamir Meciar, who has dominated Slovakian politics since the end of communism, was delivered a resounding defeat by Rudolph Schuster. This has been Meciar's second consecutive loss: first, last year, when his party was overwhelmed in parliamentary elections. Having lost the job of prime minister, he tried to stay within the political arena by running for the country's highest post, that of president. Yet here, too, his aspirations were curtailed as Schuster captured a clear majority of 57% of the vote.

While not a landslide victory, Schuster did not have an easy task before him. Meciar's power base is substantial: in additional to a large, loyal following, he exercises considerable influence on the mass media, controlling many aspects himself. In addition to this, the war in Yugoslavia has begun to raise questions in people's mind about pursuing a foreign policy that is overly dependent on western Europe and the US. On the other hand, most people realise that the staid policies thus far pursued by Meciar has isolated Slovakia. There is the hope that more western investment will be forthcoming now that Meciar is unable to directly short circuit government plans for change. Nationalistic rhetoric further contributed to Meciar's defeat. The Hungarian minority in Slovakia, which numbers at over half a million, has always been as source of friction in Slovakian politics. Realising that the country must make strides to accommodate its ethnic minority, and taking heed from the Kosovo crisis, which has provided a sobering insight into where xenophobic nationalism could lead, voters wanted to make sure that the head of state, whose role is largely ceremonial, would not interfere with the government's policy of European integration. As a first step and in a tone of reconciliation, Schuster announced his intention to work at healing the divisions within Slovak society. With a country is split along multiple lines - ethnic, political, and demographic (i.e., rural and urban) - Slovakia's new president has promised to try and get all groups to work together in order to bridge the gaps that until now have been left to widen through a policy of mutual fear. It was precisely for this reason that the Hungarian minority had put their full backing behind Schuster. The president-elect acknowledged this support, which has been estimated at no less than 99%. As a former mayor of Kosice (Kassa), formerly a Hungarian town which still has a large Hungarian population, Schuster is more sensitive to the needs and desires of Slovakia's largest ethnic minority. Indeed, under his mayorship, Kosice is one of the few towns within Slovakia that has made clear progress over the years. This doesn't necessarily mean, however, that with Schuster as president Slovakia will have a smooth road ahead. Unemployment and a sluggish economy are two of the main challenges that the new government has been struggling with. Not only this, but although Meciar has been relegated to the background, he is still lurking in the shadows, biding his time for an opportunity to make a comeback. The possibility of such a thing happening is, unfortunately, very real. This is not the first time Meciar lost power only to return to political life with a vengeance. In fact, the former prime minister has demonstrated an uncanny ability to rise phoenix-like from the ashes of defeat. Thus, Slovakia's ability to finally rid itself of the xenophobic nationalism as represented by Meciar will foremost depend on the west acknowledging the changes going on in Slovakia and going out of their way to make sure the country is not sidelined in any way.