Commentary
Society
Wounds That Won’t Heal: Trauma, Power and Politics in Slovakia – COMMENTARY
16 May 2025
5 September 2024
Fico’s populist government in Slovakia is uniting conflicting ideologies under a nationalist banner, using the symbolic power of the 80th anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising against fascist and Nazi forces to shape the political narrative.
The Slovak National Uprising, a key resistance movement against Nazi occupation during World War II, is a cornerstone of Slovakia’s modern history. However, as the country marks the 80th anniversary of this historic event, the commemoration has become a focal point of political contention in a deeply divided Slovakia.
The current left-right coalition government, led by populist Prime Minister Robert Fico, has sparked significant controversy, not only through its commemoration of the Uprising but also through its broader political manoeuvres, including efforts to reshape the media landscape and tighten control over the judiciary.