PM bemoans division of Slovak society

Slovakia experienced a "test of democratic maturity" in 2018, said Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini (Smer-SD) in his New Year speech on Tuesday, at the same time pointing to what he described as division in society and the need for cooperation in order to deal with future challenges. The prime minister, who took up office after the resignation of Robert Fico (Smer-SD) a few weeks after the murders of journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kusnirova in February, lamented that the tragedy has produced division in society and that it's become "almost impossible to find themes in some areas that would connect us". "The ability to name what was successful in a single language has been lost," said Pellegrini, going on to warn against what he called the destruction of public trust in the state, a situation that, in his view, nurtures extremism. He stressed that Slovakia is currently experiencing its best times ever in economic terms, and that he will soon announce his vision for the future.