During the Slovak National Uprising (SNP) celebrations on Friday, August 29, leading constitutional officials honoured the heroes of the uprising while warning about the rise of hatred in Slovakia. Opposition MPs stressed the connection between history and the present and emphasized the importance of remembering the past.
President Peter Pellegrini called on politicians, the media, and citizens to come together in unity, reconciliation, and mutual respect: “Unfortunately, as a society, we have reached a point where not only harmony and unity have disappeared, but also basic tolerance and mutual understanding.” Pellegrini also criticized the media’s role in society.
“But journalists were also those who spread information and instructions during the SNP, for example, through the Free Slovak Radio,” added Deputy Speaker of Parliament Martin Dubéci from the opposition PS party.
Branislav Gröhling, chairman of the opposition SaS party, stressed that the message of the SNP heroes remains relevant today. “We must never give up the fight for freedom and democracy, especially now, as politicians with totalitarian tendencies and disregard for others’ freedoms are emerging worldwide,” he stated on social media.
Prime Minister Robert Fico from Smer warned that fascism and Nazism have not been fully suppressed or punished, which he believes explains why the threat of new wars is being raised today: “The results of WWII are being denied. We know well where Slovakia’s freedom came from and the enormous sacrifices made by the peoples of the former Soviet Union in the fight for liberation. We will not allow the truth to be taken from us. As long as I am Prime Minister of Slovakia, I will always support a policy of peace.”
The opposition Christian Democrats (KDH) highlighted that the legacy of the uprising calls for overcoming political animosity and societal polarization.
Source: Slovak Radio, Barbora Tomková
