debating progressive politics in Europe and beyond
The Slovak labour market is greatly affected by the current economic crisis. After three years of real GDP growth at 5 to 10%, in fixed prices from 2002 to 2008 (peaking at 10.5% at 2007), there was a decline of 4.8% in 2009, and an increase of 4% in 2010. This decline affected mostly employment; [...]
The Slovakian left won an historic victory in Saturday’s elections. The party Direction – Social Democracy (SMER – SD), led by former PM Robert Fico, gained 44,41% of the vote, giving them 83 out of the 150 parliamentary seats. Below I reproduce an interview with Dr Lubos Blaha, a Slovakian political scientist who has become an [...]
Having analysed the possible influence of the “Gorila protests” on Slovak political parties, let´s take a look at the bigger picture. Demands, however intangible, fluid or controversial, are revolving around a need for profound transformation of Slovak politics. Systemic changes should cut the bonds between political parties and economic interests. Given the reality of Slovak [...]
Slovakia has recently seen the largest public demonstrations in many years. Last Friday, some 30.000 people took to the streets in several cities and during the dramatic finale in front of the parliament building, the police used water cannons against the hard core of demonstrators for the first time since 1989, when the “Velvet Revolution” [...]
Political corruption is nothing new in Eastern European countries (and indeed elsewhere) but a new case in Slovakia, revealed ahead of the general election in March, has raised new questions over the extent of this persistent problem. The information contained in a leaked file code-named ‘Gorilla’ could have serious repercussions for Slovak politics. Euractiv reports [...]
A banner unfurled on the Leaning Tower of Pisa reads No alla riforma (of education). Portugal virtually comes to a halt as a result of a general strike that has united the bitterly divided union movement against austerity measures. British students trash the headquarters of the ruling Conservative Party in protest at budget cuts. In [...]
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