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The Documentary Podcast

Slovakia divided

The Documentary Podcast

BBC

Society & Culture, Documentary

4.32.7K Ratings

🗓️ 5 September 2023

⏱️ 27 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Slovakia may be a small country, but its upcoming elections could have a big impact across Europe and beyond. One of the strongest supporters of Ukraine in its war against Russia, Slovakia was the first Nato country to deliver fighter jets to its eastern neighbour. But could that soon change? September’s snap elections follow the collapse of Slovakia’s staunchly pro-Western government. Leading the polls is the populist party of former Prime Minister Robert Fico. The fiercely Moscow-friendly candidate has promised to end military aid to Ukraine, if he returns to power. John Kampfner travels across Slovakia to find out why the country looks set for a dramatic political about-turn.

Transcript

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0:00.0

Unexpected elements is the podcast, shining a light on the science lurking behind the news.

0:06.0

We know lots of scientists and we're not afraid to call them up.

0:09.0

Unexpected elements, from the BBC World Service, find it wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

0:17.0

Poria Duk organized all the best.

0:23.0

She said it was all good, there was a lot of order, you know, organisation and that she was happy with how it was.

0:34.0

In the organisation where she worked, they would get spa or holidays or retreats.

0:41.0

They had the camps for kids and they also always got their flats, especially for young families, flats in the town.

0:54.0

It's not unusual for people in Central and Eastern Europe to be nostalgic for the communist days, particularly people of a certain age.

1:03.0

Those who avoided trouble were provided for throughout, from cradle to grave.

1:08.0

Then the old order came crashing down in its place, free markets, globalization and chaos.

1:15.0

Also the story goes, over the past decade across Europe and beyond voters have flocked to politicians who promise to clean up the mess.

1:25.0

Slovakia is a prime example.

1:29.0

This is Robert Fizzo, he's already been Prime Minister twice and according to opinion polls his party is set to return to power in a few weeks time.

1:45.0

I'm John Campfner and I've been travelling around Slovakia ahead of elections at the end of this month that could have a seismic effect not just on this small nation but also for the rest of Europe and the wider west.

1:58.0

Starting with Russia and Ukraine.

2:01.0

When it comes to political support, the governments we had in the past three years have really very openly shown support for Ukraine, have openly labeled Russia as an aggressor.

2:15.0

Dominika Haydu is head of the Centre for Democracy and Resilience at Globsek, a think tank based in the capital Bratislava that monitors the former communist states.

2:26.0

What's remarkable about Slovakia is that per capita it's been one of Ukraine's staunchest backers. That, she says, looks set to change.

2:35.0

Currently there are parties which very openly express their reluctance to support Ukraine, especially when it comes to armed supplies and military support.

2:47.0

And if these parties win or form the coalition government, there is really a chance that the EU unity or the NATO unity in terms of the support for Ukraine could crumble further.

3:01.0

Since Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Slovakia has gone all in, even providing Mick 29 jets to Ukraine.

3:12.0

All the while, opinion polls have pointed in the opposite direction. Dominika Haydu gives me the rundown.

...

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