Slovakia: President Čaputová has had enough
Despite her popularity, Slovakian President Zuzana Čaputová will not run for a second five-year term next spring. She does not have the strength this would require, the president said explaining her decision. Is the country's stability under threat now?
Surprising and disappointing
Pravda expresses disappointment and a lack of understanding:
“Having an opportunity and not using it is literally a sin - especially if it is one that will never come again. From this point of view, President Zuzana Čaputová's decision not to run can be considered a mistake. At a time when the chaos in Slovak politics has reached unprecedented proportions and the disillusionment among the population is great, the president bears even more responsibility for the fate of the country. ... Čaputová seemed to take her role seriously. Over the years of her work in the non-governmental sector and in the presidency, she has become what is called a 'homo politicus'. This makes her voluntary resignation all the more surprising now.”
Democracy does not depend on her
Denník N takes the decision more calmly:
“Five years ago, few believed that Zuzana Čaputová would win the presidential election. Perhaps she did not even believe it herself. And she was virtually unknown to most of society. To turn the departure of a politician who grew up so quickly into a tragedy is not appropriate. Nowhere is it written that her story cannot be repeated by someone else. The strength of democracy lies in the fact that its supporters regard politicians as their representatives, not as their idols. The latter is the distinguishing characteristic of supporters of the undemocratic camp. Democracy will survive Zuzana Čaputová's premature departure from politics.”