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Bugar Says Smer-SD Devalued Patriotism in Recent Months
Saturday 01 May 2010 Zoom in | Print page
(SRo, May 1, Sobotne dialogy)
Bela Bugar, chairman of the Most-Hid party, speaking on Slovak Radio discussion programme Sobotne dialogy (Saturday Dialogues), ruled out suggestions of making a deal with the opposition ethnic Hungarian SMK closely prior to the June 12 election should both of them be in danger of staying out of the legislature.
Bugar confirmed he broke away from SMK to form a new party due to the current leader Pal Csaky and his ally Miklos Duray, so he will not enter into any agreements with them. Having among its supporters between 20 and 30 percent of Slovak nationality (as opinion polls indicate) Most-Hid, according to Bugar, does not share the same voter base with SMK.
Co-appearing with Deputy Premier for Minorities Dusan Caplovic (Smer-SD), Bugar ripped into Smer by criticising its railroading within a single day of the legislative amendment on state symbols through parliament that will as of September have pupils, e.g., sing anthems in classrooms adorned with a national flag at the start of the academic year. The measure was fast-tracked in parliament unlawfully, as it can only be so in serious events, when the security of the state is threatened, for example.
Bugar said he believed that the strongest ruling Smer-SD party and the Slovak National Party (SNS), which gave up on its own harsher draft Patriot Act in favour of the above state symbols measure, have devalued patriotism by the way they sought to enforce it in recent months. In addition, Smer-SD plagiarises SNS's themes, he claimed.
Caplovic countered by saying that the aforesaid amendment was necessary because some municipalities in southern Slovakia do not have national flags flying in front of their council houses. He blamed opposition parties for failing to cast votes on the measure.
He explained that the government exploited a fast-tracking procedure since the related April session was the last one in this Parliament.
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