Michal Šimečka (Progressive Slovakia) is currently the main face of the Slovak opposition, in the elections, he reached second place behind Směr-SD – a loss in the ratio of 23% to 17.5% sent him to the opposition, for Robert Fico is now the main rival and target of criticism.
Šimečka, after the Czech government interrupted intergovernmental consultations with Fico’s government, spoke about the shame and about the worst moments in the history of the independent Czech and Slovak Republics.
After his arrival in Prague, he confirmed that the suspension of intergovernmental consultations had caused quite a stir. And not only in the Czech Republic or in Fico’s team. “It also resonates in Slovakia, and that is precisely why I consider the message that I want to pass on to Czech partners here in Prague to be important, that not everything that Prime Minister Robert Fico or the Foreign Minister says, what meetings they have, that it does not represent the will and opinion of the majority people in Slovakia,” Michal Šimečka (Progressive Slovakia) told Blesk the opposition leader and deputy speaker of the local chamber.
Šimečka: We are at a sensitive point in diplomatic relations
On Thursday, he rushed to Prague to mitigate the damage after the shootout between Fiala from Ficus. “I am very happy to be in Prague,” stated in a joint press release after the meeting with Ivan Bartoš and other Pirates. “I will also meet with other representatives of the Czech government and the Czech parliament tomorrow,” introduced Šimeček and spoke about the timeless importance of Czech-Slovak relations, which will be strong regardless of who is currently in power.
“At the same time, it must be admitted that this visit of mine also comes at a sensitive point in our mutual diplomatic relations,” pointed out Šimečka. Slovakia is not just his government and his Prime Minister Fico, but a “constructive, responsible, pro-European partner within the EU, within Western civilization,” he said. He does not agree with Fico’s statements regarding the attitude towards Russia or Ukrainesaid Šimečka.
Slovaks also support Ukraine, assures Šimečka
“Slovaks also support the full, constructive involvement of Slovakia within the EU in helping Ukraine, Slovaks in large numbers, just as in the Czech Republic, helped Ukrainian refugees after the outbreak of war. We opened our homes, our hearts to Ukrainian women and children fleeing Russian aggression. Slovakia as a society perceives the suffering of Ukrainians, perceives the aggression of the Russian Federation” added Šimečka.
According to him, the relations between the Czech Republic and Slovakia must continue to be of high quality regardless of who is in power, whether in the Czech Republic or in Slovakia, pointed out Šimečka, who, according to his words, wants to do everything for the countries to overcome the sensitive moment.
Bartoš: Czech Republic and Slovakia in a semi-detached house
The suspension of consultations between the Czech government and the Slovak cabinet is a strong symbolic gesture, this does not create a split between Czechs and Slovaks, says Deputy Prime Minister Ivan Bartoš (Pirates). According to him, the decision of the Czech government was unanimous and correct.
“I see the Czech Republic and Slovakia as our Central European semi-detached house. And in such a semi-detached house, we respect the privacy of the neighbor, but at the same time you live close by, you share a common space, in many cases you work together and in general you sincerely care about how the other is doing at the moment (…) Slovaks are and will remain our closest friends,” Bartoš pointed out on the press and reminded not only of interconnected families and language proximity.
“Now it seems in many cases that clouds are gathering over Slovakia, sometimes it may seem that some politicians in Bratislava are starting to speak the language of Moscow more, but this does not mean for us that the whole of Slovakia speaks that language.” said Bartoš.
He warned that “threats of various populism and extremism are trying to seize the whole of Europe with their tentacles” and they appear like mushrooms after the rain. Both Pirates and Progressive Slovakia offer “functional solutions to problems for all classes, not likability, short-sightedness and cheap populism”, said Bartoš. “For us, it is completely beyond debate whose side we are on in the war that started when Russia attacked the territory of the sovereign state of Ukraine,” he added.