1989 was a symbolic year. The Berlin War fell down and in Central and Eastern Europe it was the beginning of the march towards democracy that for many post-communist countries culmulated with the entry to the European Union. Slovakia or as many people say, the Slovak Republic, as not to be confused with Slovenia, took another step in European integration today by having the physical border control with Western Europe removed by joining the Schengen zone.

Slovak Interior Minister Robert Kalinak said last week in Brussels, the last remainder of the Iron Curtain will fall.
At its session earlier in December, the Council of the European Union’s Justice and Home Affairs Ministers unanimously approved the entry of Slovakia and eight other countries to the Schengen zone. Costs of preparatory works for the entry and indirectly related work moved about SKK 3 billion. Marine and land border controls between the current fifteen members of the Schengen system and the new nine members, including Slovakia, will be shut down at midnight, December 20.

Not participating in 1989, it is most gratifying to be present at another important occassion. During the last hours before the entry, there was Schengen party at the border crossings Berg. And earlier that day, Prime Ministers of Slovakia and Austria Robert Fico and Alfred Gusenbauer removed a barrier symbolizing the controlled border.

Governments are judged by a variety of things, one of which is unemployment. Of course the issue is more than a campaign topic. European politicians and their North American counterparts are intimately familiar but the question is how to tackle the problem when the loss of jobs grows to a degree that it no longer is managable.  All historians and the more astute novices will remember FDR’s ‘New Deal’ with the American electorate; while those who check their pocketbooks will remember the late 90’s with nostagia and wonder how 2001-2002’s ‘jobless recovery’ did not harm President Bush.

A survey by Eurostat, the European Union’s Statistical Office, shows that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Slovakia remained unchanged in September from August at 11.1 percent. This put Slovakia at the top of the list among EU countries. Poland, which until recently had usually posted the highest unemployment rate, put even more distance between itself and Slovakia, decreasing its rate to 8.8 percent in September from 9.1 percent in August.

As of yet such news has not forced Mr Fico to publically say anything. Indeed, in a parliamentary democracy such questions are best handled by the Finance Minister or relevent person in Cabinet; however both former Chancellor Schroeder and former British Prime Minister Blair personally took responsibility for and an active role in fixing their respectful countries unemployment rates while in office.

Several months ago, Mr Fico attributed the healthy condition of the Slovak economy to the hard work of the Slovak worker. This was a wonderful news soundbite,  but with last weeks announcement that promised Christmas bonuses to pensioners instead would go to Slovak train transportation and now the EU unemployment ranking, the prime minister may want to take a more pro-active, public approach. Yes, recent polling still shows that his party is the most popular in Parliament, but this is no reason to remain mute. Answer the critics, calm the pensioners, and introduce a plan to fight the unemployment.

Prior posts by this blogger has discussed the influence and importance of what American’s call the ‘fourth branch’ of government—the media. Discussing the role of the media in European politics is interesting since each country in Europe has different cultural expectations and laws regarding the press. As such it is important when examining the political situations in Central and Eastern Europe.Politicians and the media have a love-hate relationship. It is through the medium of media that politicians communicate with the citizens. But, the constant presence of the media with politicians is not only irritating for the lack of privacy, but frustrating because of the potential for very public mistakes.

However, in a democracy the media is an integral part of government becoming in the case of Thatcher’s Britain the ‘print-opposition’, Schroder’s ‘other voice’ and in France an uncensored ‘Big Brother’.  Also, as with any business operations, sponsorship based on funds is necessary. This may not mean that one will find a biased media source, as some conservatives claim in the United States, rather the facts are fundamental and opinion is left where it belongs, on the editorial page.

Mr Fico’s accusations that the Sme daily newspaper’s reporting is influenced by money from private health care and pension companies is amusing, dare I say funny. Despite the fact that to remain in business such sponsorship is needed, Mr Fico’s own party has influence from money of powerful businesses and individuals. His accusation leveled in his letter to the daily Sme newspaper is untrue where he writes“…I am also prepared to tolerate the unusual phenomenon in which you have taken up the role of political opposition, which is unprecedented in Europe.” If Mr Fico feels, as he claims in his accusation of Sme inventing a story that Fico said the governor of the central bank (NBS) may be corrupt, in an interview on the public Slovak Radio one must remember the differences between a hurt ego and hurt pride. They are not mutually exclusive.

Rather, the prime minister should examine the relationship of the press with other governments, in particular Britain and Germany where the idea of ‘print opposition’ is not only normal and accepted, but valued. The relationship between the media and politicians will always be tenuous as in the political climate. There is no need to alienate the people and sources one need’s in future legislative and electoral battles.

Political parties beyond their purpose of directing the policies of a government have a large role in the ideas and issues discussed in the public forum. Politics in general, and politicians in particular have never been viewed favorably but wrap them in the cloak of Party and some meaning is attained. Whether it is the Democrat-Republicans attacking the policies of the Federalists in the early days of the American republic or the audacity of a newly formed Republican Party from the ashes of the Whig’s nominating a generally unknown candidate for the presidency in 1860. It is also the fractious history of British national politics with its regional parties and splits and coalitions between Liberal and Labour and Social Democrat Parties; and the decade-by-decade reformation and disintegration of French and Spanish parties.

Therefore it should not be a surprise that in ‘coalition-government’ Europe Slovak politics is to receive a new party. The brainchild of tax reform author Richard Sulík and his former colleague Peter Pažitný, who participated in drafting the health care reform during the previous government. Both men confirmed to the Hospodárske noviny daily they were planning to form a new political party with the main objective to “rescue” the tax reform introduced by the former government of Mikuláš Dzurinda.

Though the party is yet to be named much public support will depend on how this new party will frame the tax reform issue to the Slovak public and accurately defend itself from the guaranteed attacks by the ruling coalition under Mr Fico. However, if Messrs Sulík and Pažitný bring nothing more to the public forum than intelligent debate they will have accomplished something: the affirmation of peaceful, yet contentious dialogue in this great experiment known as Democracy.

Legacy for political leaders is important. Equally important is how that legacy is helped by their successors. In the United States the early practice of naming the Secretary of State as the heir-apparent has been converted into the role of the Vice-President. There are similar practices in Western Europe and it seems a particular trend will continue in Russia as well.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has accepted the resignation of PM Mikhail Fradkov and nominated a financial crime investigator to replace him. Viktor Zubkov, head of the federal financial monitoring service, a relative unknown in Russian politics. The change marks a major political shake-up ahead of parliamentary and presidential elections similar to what Boris Yeltsin did by naming an unknown Mr Putin as his replacement.

If keeping the trend of unknown appointments is fascinating what is more intriguing is how the Russian Secret Services have slowly and silently made a comeback in the country from the dark days of the failed coup in 1991.

It is assumed that Mr Zubkov has been appointed to ensure a smooth transition between Mr Putin and his successor, with many analysts indicating First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov, long considered a frontrunner for the presidency, who worked under Mr Putin in the FSB, the internal intelligence agency, in the 1990s. The spies may not have had to come in from the cold, and those who are looking to be surprised should not be.

When delegates to a convention in Annapolis, Maryland met in secret and decided that a more robust structure for government was needed in the United States they all knew that they were embarking on a journey unlike any had witnessed. When the journey concluded on September 17, 1787 some of them had become rivals, though they could agree that the document ratified by the states of the American union had created a unique new country; more united than in 1781 when the British surrendered at Yorktown.

The Constitution of the United States is a unique document, touching upon themes in Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence of 1776, while creating brand-new ideas of sovereignty, individual liberty, and government separation of power. Scholars will dispute the merits and intentions of the founders of the American Republic and the writers and defenders of the Constitution, but one thing is clear: as it was the beginning of an experiment universally known as democracy it has become the model for successive nations attempts at similar conception, birth, and re-birth of democracy.

It is therefore appropriate to point out the merits of the Slovak constitution and its 15^th anniversary since September 1, 1992. In a statement President Ivan Gašparovič said the constitution is a modern and functioning document that includes the universally respected principles of self-determination, sovereignty and identity of the Slovak nation, and its indisputable right to its own independent state.

As Europeans contemplate the future of their ‘union’ and the American public prepare to commemorate their 220^th Anniversary in the midst of intense domestic debate and foreign conflicts and Slovaks move into the sixteenth year with their constitution and eighteen years since the Prague Spring it should be remembered what James Madison said democracy does: “society becomes broken into a greater variety of interests, of pursuits, of passions which check each other…”

History repeats itself.  This is a fact that most people will agree with and then forget. This is the reason for the shocking expressions and need for “experts” to explain an event when something occurs.

It seems that a bit of history is being repeated in Slovakia. The most recent opinion poll suggests that former labour minister Iveta Radičová is the most popular opposition politician. She trails only Prime Minister Robert Fico and President Ivan Gašparovič, who have been dominating the popularity polls for a much longer time.

This is important to note since it took a little over two years to build an opposition coalition that won the general election in 1997. During that time the then Prime Minister Mr Meciar was very popular. Of course Mr Fico’s government is still fairly new. The honeymoon period of governing may be over, but the promises of the campaign and popularity of his government proposals and laws are still fresh.

It may be possible that Ms Radičová will slowly build a solid coalition and in time Mr Fico’s popularity will decrease allowing for a new election. Electoral politics aside, another historical repetition is taking place though many have not made mention of it yet.

In 1979, a young charismatic daughter of a grocer used her popularity and political skills to become the first female leader of a major political party in Britain. Later, she led her opposition party to electoral victory becoming the first-ever female British Prime Minister.  This historical connection is merely based upon gender and internal-party popularity and I wish not to speculate on a political future.  However, when one looks at the two historical connections one cannot but be hopeful.

It is from my house in the heart of Europe that I heard the other day of two tragedies that personally affect me.

Death is always tragic. Wheather it is at the hands of a horrible disease or in the hands of a comrade in a horrible war.

For Geneva Humphrey and John St. John their memories and their lives will be remembered.

The following paragraph will not espouse the benefits of science and research and deride the pitiful monies and sterile morality politicians in Washington D.C. have shown in recent decades towards curing a disease. The paragraph will not be a tirade on the wasted opportunities over the past seven years in our foreign policy or the billions of money spent every day for a foreign government that, as news yesterday showed, cannot protect their own citizens, while my own government cannot give adequate money to the families of the fallen soldiers or provide the care and rehibiliation necessary for the walking wounded. It will be simple. A woman who lived a full life, raised her family and laughed with friends, and a man who had only lived a quarter of his life would want nothing more.

It is a request: Hug the nearest family member and call those who are distant. Tell them you love them.

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