Hungarian MEP: Without the protests, nothing would have changed

EP delegation member Benedek Jávor was frightened when Robert Fico, then still prime minister, started making allegations concerning George Soros in their conversation.

MEP Benedek JávorMEP Benedek Jávor (Source: TASR)

The Slovak Spectator spoke with Jávor, a member of the European Parliament’s delegation that came to Slovakia in early March to look at the murder investigation of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová as well as suspicions of abuse of agricultural subsidies, about his impression from the meetings, the measures planned to protect journalists, and the importance of public-service media for the European Union.

SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement
SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement

Read also: MEPs call for investigation into the disappearance of journalists Read more 

The Slovak Spectator (TSS): You visited Slovakia amid a deep political crisis as part of the official EP delegation. The murder of Ján Kuciak and the crisis that followed is believed to be a turning point for the country. What was your impression?
Benedek Jávor (BJ):
My impression was that there was clearly a need for change. Society absolutely lost its trust in the government. If the government had reacted more quickly to the first demands from the public to remove the interior minister and the head of police, the whole story could have been settled with less loss for the government. The government believed they could survive the crisis without major changes, which I think was a wrong understanding of the situation. They realised too late that they needed to act. By that time the demands went far beyond those original ideas.

SkryťTurn off ads

Still, there is some tension, there are many people who believe that this is the same government with different faces, and nothing has substantially changed. We have to keep our eyes on the development in Slovakia, if the steps of the new government can calm society and offer solutions for the crisis.

Read also: Former diplomat: UK will remember Slovakia kept silent in Skripal case Read more 

TSS: From your observations during talks with government members, were there indications that resignation was an option?
BJ:
I think that the resignation of Interior Minister [Robert] Kaliňák had already been decided, but it wasn’t communicated to us. I think that at the time they still hoped that with some minor modifications they could survive the crisis. We didn’t receive any indications neither from PM [Robert] Fico nor from other officials of a willingness to major reshuffles in the government.

SkryťTurn off ads

TSS: Hungary has been struggling with tendencies of diverting the country away from the path of liberal democracy. Did you see any similar symptoms in Slovakia during your visit, when you met with the now former PM Robert Fico and other governmental and non-governmental representatives?
BJ:
Not really. When we had meetings with Slovakia’s officials, they were really constructive and cooperative. They assured us that they are ready to cooperate, really committed to European fundamental rights and values, and it was in their best interest to follow them. They always underlined that Slovakia is a stable basis for European integration process and the troubles of the region.

The rest of this article is premium content at Spectator.sk
Subscribe now for full access

I already have subscription - Sign in

Subscription provides you with:
  • Immediate access to all locked articles (premium content) on Spectator.sk
  • Special weekly news summary + an audio recording with a weekly news summary to listen to at your convenience (received on a weekly basis directly to your e-mail)
  • PDF version of the latest issue of our newspaper, The Slovak Spectator, emailed directly to you
  • Access to all premium content on Sme.sk and Korzar.sk

Top stories

Slovakia marks 20 years since joining NATO.

Slovakia marks 20 years in the Alliance.


Daniel Hoťka and 1 more
Píšem or pišám?

"Do ľava," (to the left) I yelled, "Nie, do prava" (no, to the right), I gasped. "Dolšie," I screamed. "Nie, nie, horšie..." My Slovak girlfriend collapsed in laughter. Was it something I said?


Matthew J. Reynolds
Czech biochemist Jan Konvalinka.

Jan Konvalinka was expecting a pandemic before Covid-19 came along.


SkryťClose ad