I see the irrational hatred for Meciar and his great rule include comparing him with other good leaders; Milosevic and Lukashenko. These are others who decided that fire sales of national assets to foreigners was not a good idea and so their countries became “black holes” as a result.

The reason why Meciar has lost ground is twofold; one, the boycott organised by the US and EU since the 1998 elections and the rise of Fico who poached Meciar’s voters frustrated by the obvious boycott policy and his yielding on matters like NATO membership under the pressure, trying desperately to no longer be shunned. Politicians could argue that they had to shun Meciar as a condition for joining the EU. Now that Slovakia is in the EU, that threat can no longer be made and Meciar’s party can once again take its place as a ruling party.

I congratulate Fico for finally allowing a representative government to take its place in Bratislava, a government that is not cobbled together by interfering foreigners. Slovakia can again be an example to the world as it was under Meciar.

If so, what are the possibilities of a SDKU+Hungarians+Christian Democrats, and then getting one or two members to flip? Or is party discipline that strong in Slovakian parliamentarianism?

But outside southern Alberta and certain retrograde enclaves in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, you’re right that US style conservatives are few and far between.

Swing, as I understand it, constitues a change of heart on the part of the voters, but I really dont think that those who supported the Right in past elections moved to the Left. Of course I could be wrong, but if it were so, than SMER (which gained votes mainly from Meciar) would have even stronger showing.

The broader point that I was trying to make (that didn’t come across at all) is that I always find it funny when other countries think their conservatives are too conservative. I seriously doubt that Stephen Harper, and his people will become the neocons that the US has. I worked in Geneva during the spring and met a woman there who was born and raised in Quebec, and she was terrified of a Harper-led government.

This always makes me laugh, because the mainstream “conservative” movements in Canada, Mexico, and Western Europe would be center or left of center in the US. Its just that there always seem to be this hyperbole that a conservative party is the worse thing in the world, but they don’t realize that these “conservatives” would be moderate liberals in the US.

It just cracks me up every time, when they think they got it bad.

@Lemuel, it’s not only about percentage of votes. The voter turnout dropped sharply this time too. I’m not sure what this means — where SDKU supporters disheartened? Or was everybody just not that interested? But anyway, when voters of the left (or right) unite instead of splitting their vote, I think it’s fair to say that’s a swing.

@Keith, I don’t doubt they were at pains to stress it. The Croats, Hungarians and Romanians say exactly the same thing. Nobody wants to be in Eastern Europe.

Doug M.

I must allways laugh when these necessary steps without which the country would in all probablity go bankrupt are described as radical and “neo-liberal”.

“…this well trodden path that Europe appears to be realizing was a mistake?”

Steve, dont be silly. A road toward greater freedom and personal responsibility is hardly a mistake. And just becuase something gets voted for or against doesnt make it more or less truthful.

A few hours east, surely? A few hours west of Bratislava and you’re in Switzerland …