The nationalism trap

After the discord of recent weeks, Slovakian prime minister Robert Fico and his Hungarian counterpart Ferenc Gyurcsány have met in the southern Slovakian border town of Komárno, and issued a common statement condemning extremism and neo-fascism. Nothing but lip service, writes Der Standard newspaper: "With their public appearance, both prime ministers were simply catering to their home clientele. Fico is dependent on his nationalist coalition partner at least until the next elections. Clearly he also owes his popularity to duplicity: he distances himself from the verbal excesses of Ján Slota, leader of the Slovak National Party, but at the same time he holds firmly to the coalition. Gyurcsány, for his part, has his back to the wall and believes the only way he can stand up to the pressure of the right-wing nationalist opposition is by playing the national card. Regardless of their motives, both prime ministers have knowingly fallen into the nationalism trap. And the meeting in Komárno shows just how difficult it is to get out of it again."

» more information (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » EU enlargement, » Minorities, » Hungary, » Slovakia
All available articles from » Josef Kirchengast

» To the complete press review of Monday, November 17, 2008