We must not give up on the fight for a more united and cohesive nation, however difficult it may seem looking at the political scene. This was stated by the Speaker of the Slovak Parliament Peter Pellegrini from the Hlas-SD party in his New Year's speech.
He stressed that basing one's entire political existence on spreading evil and hatred is not only pathetic, but also dangerous for society. He wished the citizens to live in a more peaceful and safer world in the New Year. He also called for mutual respect and understanding.
"My personal wish and political goal will be that people should not suffer the consequences of political disputes and quarrels. A strong and working state must ensure the quality of life to the citizens, regardless of the conflicts in the parliament," Pellegrini said, pointing to the situation in the parliament and statements made by some politicians.
"Let them have pointless debates on topics that are often just their personal agenda but have absolutely nothing to do with the real problems of the people. But let us have stability, peace and a sense of security in Slovakia," he added.
That is why he also sees the need for stable and trustworthy institutions that do not fight against each other. "If the state is able to help all those who need help, if it can intervene decisively where the all-powerful market has failed, and if it is a service to the people and not a burden, people can easily forget the pointless political debates and get on with their own lives," he stressed.
He urged that politics should not be divisive, produce decay and chaos, which the country and its people are paying the price for. "Politics should be a service to the people and not a circus of which the people must be ashamed," he pointed out.
He described the past year 2023 in politics as a turbulent one. He recalled changes of governments and snap elections. Given the situation, he said it was no wonder that there was growing distrust, frustration and anger at political representation in the society.
"The elections brought change and after four years it remains to be seen whether it was a change for the better. I am confident that it will be a success, if the new government succeeds in fulfilling its plans to build a strong state," he said.
He declared that the government would continue in the set pace so that the citizens would feel the change in their own lives as soon as possible.
He wished the people that 2024 would be a year of turnaround in the relationship of the state to its citizens, in the living standards, in the stability of the state institutions and the relationships between them. He stressed that citizens must be assured that they can rely on the state and that it will not leave them on their own.
(RTVS)
