Playing Politics in Bratislava

Miroslav Lajčák, the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic and a popular politician domestically, is facing possible resignation after losing support from the Slovak government on the UN Global Compact on Migration, which he worked closely in developing. V/I spoke with Grigorij Mesežnikov, a political analyst living in Bratislava about the unfolding events.

V/I: How would you explain the game of Slovak politics when it comes to the voting on the UN Compact on Migration?

Grigorij Mesežnikov (GM): As it has ever been in Slovak politics, when it comes to any topics related to migration or refugees, most Slovak political parties are positioning  themselves as defenders of a unique national, cultural character of the country which is against any aliens. This is not only about the ruling party SMER-SD, or the nationalists and extremists, but also unfortunately even about the better part of the political spectrum which also present themselves as defenders of the “character of Slovakia” vis-a-vis foreign intruders.

When the Refugee Crisis was at its peak in Europe, Slovakia was avoided by migrants/refuges. Today, three years after the crisis, whenever this  topic arises among political parties in Slovakia, politicians are actively engaged in it as they see it as a possibility to gain some political capital.