2022: HIGH NOON OF POLITICAL TURBULANCE IN SLOVAKIA

Abstract

The article examines the political processes in Slovakia in 2022. It is noted that the past year has demonstrated the fragility and weakness of the ruling coalition, which, following a lengthy debate, was forced to resign. The author notes that the central reason for the collapse of the Cabinet was the personal hostility of the country’s leading politicians – I. Matovič and R. Sulik. However, they demonstrated a keen desire to delay the collapse of the coalition, aggravating the internal political situation in the country as much as possible, since they realized the impossibility of participating in the formation of the next government following the results of early elections. The paper notes significant electoral changes in Slovakia since 2020: there has been a total decline in the popularity of the parties that formed the Cabinet, and an increase in the authority of the forces in opposition and promising the return of stable times. Meanwhile, early elections scheduled for September 30, 2023 do not yet guarantee the opposition a victory. The Slovak political tradition and the experience of neighboring Central European countries point to the possibility of liberal politicians uniting in various political alliances to prevent their ideological opponents from gaining power.