SLOVAKIA POLITICAL ROUNDUP: ELECTION EDITION, MAY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BRATISLAVA 000382 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/11/2021 TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM SOCI PINR LO SUBJECT: SLOVAKIA POLITICAL ROUNDUP: ELECTION EDITION, MAY 12, 2006 REF: BRATISLAVA 343 Classified By: Ambassador Rodolphe M. Vallee for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D ). SPRING - AND CAMPAIGN SEASON - IS HERE -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Campaign season for the June 17 elections is in full swing in Slovakia, as the political parties attempt to mobilize voters in spite of a trend in regional elections of decreasing voter turnout. Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda's Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKU) and the socially conservative Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) have been actively pounding the pavement in Bratislava, passing out materials. Former PM Vladimir Meciar's Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) and Robert Fico's Smer party rely more upon public events with food and drink. The Slovak Hungarian Coalition (SMK) -- confident in its "usual" 10-12 percent at the polls -- has purchased only a few billboards in southern Slovakia, and is maintaining a generally low profile. Politicians and government officials are increasingly out on the campaign trail, with Minister of Foreign Affairs Eduard Kukan and his Deputy Minister, Magda Vasaryova (both SDKU) alternating their schedules so while one is on the road chasing votes, the other remains in Bratislava to manage the Ministry. YOU MIGHT VOTE KDH IF... -------------- ¶2. (U) A KDH campaign newsletter distributed on the streets of Bratislava includes a five-question quiz citizens can take to "find out" if they are likely KDH voters. Asking questions about tax systems, government incentives for investment, and even whether to give money to homeless people on the streets, the quiz provides a "key" to the results. According to the quiz: - If you score 5-7 points, the year 1989 "came as an unpleasant surprise" for you. You consider the state the best solution for every problem, and socialism is fine with you. You close both eyes to state debt and low productivity. The EU raises some hope for you, in that you see many similarly-thinking comrades. You're planning to vote for Smer or (communist party) KSS, but a day spent in your garden would probably be more pleasant. - If you received 8-12 points, you don't have a clear position. On one hand, you're eager for capitalism and a market economy, but on the other hand you lack a sense of freedom and the effort to understand other people. You will hesitate until the last minute trying to decide whether to vote at all. In the end, though, you will probably vote for SDKU. - If you received 12-15 points, you are a prospective KDH voter. You don't rely upon the state, but you understand that sometimes a person needs help from others. Freedom is important to you in all aspects of life. You have a sense of justice, but in addition to your reason, you have a heart. "Thank you for your vote!" ¶3. (U) In general, KDH is hoping that the public will feel that traditional values need to be better defended, hence KDH's campaign slogan "a decent life." HZDS "ENFORCERS" ENSURE THEIR VOTERS TURN UP -------------- --- ¶4. (C) HZDS Vice Chairman Milan Urbani told us that HZDS will not go door-to-door seeking votes, relying instead on public events with food and drink to create a "festival atmosphere" to attract voters. On campaign day, Urbani says that party discipline is strictly enforced: a HZDS "observer" at each voting station is provided with a list of voters in that district who have expressed support for HZDS, and takes "attendance" as they show up at the polls. In the afternoon, the observer then calls the local party chief to report the names of truant HZDS voters, so party activists can go to their homes, round them up, and take them to polling stations. Urbani predicted that HZDS could win up to 17-18 percent at the polls by enforcing this voter discipline. ¶5. (U) HZDS has also publicly announced a SKK 100,000 (around USD 3400) reward to the local HZDS chief whose electoral district in the Banska Bystrica region mobilizes the highest number of votes to his party. Urbani told the media that he will pay the reward out of his own pocket. MECIAR KEEPS THE DOORS OPEN FOR COOPERATION BRATISLAVA 00000382 002 OF 003 -------------- ¶6. (SBU) During a May 11 "candidate breakfast" hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce, Meciar was conciliatory towards the current government, praising most of their record and offering no harsh criticism. When asked if, as a likely third-place finisher, HZDS would consider forming a coalition with Smer or SDKU, Meciar said that HZDS shares many of the same criticisms of the government as Smer, but that Smer has no program so he cannot say whether such cooperation could exist. On SDKU, Meciar said that they are hard to negotiate with because of "competing interests," but also kept the door open. SDKU: DOOR-TO-DOOR WINS SEATS ON THE FLOOR -------------- ¶7. (C) In contrast to HZDS' public gatherings, SDKU Secretary General Kamil Homola said door-to-door campaigning SIPDIS is the only way to go. He said it is possible to change the minds of Slovak voters and convince them of the merits of your arguments only if you talk to them in person. Homola predicted that SDKU would get 17 percent of the total vote, and said there were some "surprises" yet to come. (COMMENT: Homola accurately predicted SDKU results in 2002 based on mathematical formulas, so he feels very comfortable in his prediction for this election cycle as well. END COMMENT.) ¶8. (C) Emboffs have received glossy SDKU campaign propaganda in their mailboxes, featuring the accomplishments of SDKU-run ministries during the past four years and titled "We've Come Part of the Way." SDKU billboards feature long messages such as "Slovakia needed reforms. We had the courage to start them." Some members of the diplomatic corps complained to Foreign Minister Kukan that the slogans on SDKU billboards are "too complicated" to read at highway driving speeds. Kukan admitted as much to the Ambassador, noting that Fico's three-word banners ("Direction for People") was very effective. ANO'S NEW BRAND: NOW WITH LESS RUSKO -------------- ¶9. (C) Alliance of New Citizens (ANO) is trying to shed its Pavol Rusko-centric image. ANO's campaign theme is "more women in politics." Though Rusko remains near the top of the candidate list, ANO has purchased numerous billboards around Slovakia featuring its top five female candidates and the slogan "ONA? ANO!" ("Her? Yes!"). Graffiti artists have taken delight in painting fanciful mustaches on the featured candidates. COMMENT: During his recent upcountry travels, the Ambassador reports that ANO billbords are the most widespread, as Rusko is using a considerable amount of his personal fortune to finance the high-visibility campaign. END COMMENT. ¶10. (SBU) ANO is courting voters with calls for legalization of domestic partnerships, mandatory English language instruction in schools, and rejection of the so-called "conscientious objector" treaty with the Vatican. FIRST-TIME VOTERS MAY MAKE A DIFFERENCE -------------- ¶11. (U) According to the Statistics Office, there are 434,000 eligible first-time voters in Slovakia between the ages of 18-22. Politicians from every party have been spotted speaking at secondary schools throughout the country. Analysts cautioned, however, that this voting bloc is "unstable" and includes many non-voters. Olga Gyarfasova from the Institute for Public Affairs said that in 2002 first-time voters favored Smer and ANO candidates, but that this cycle polling indicates their preference for Smer and Free Forum (SF). ¶12. (U) The Dzurinda cabinet recently prepared an amendment to the regulation on high school scholarships that grants students from low income families a monthly stipend of between SKK 600 and SKK 12,000 (around USD 20 to around USD 400),depending on family circumstances. The amendment is seen by some pundits as an attempt to attract first-time voters to vote for the current coalition parties. FICO'S ROLE MODEL "UNCOMPROMISING AND GOAL ORIENTED" -------------- -------------- ¶13. (C) In a May 6 ceremony to mark the anniversary of the death of Slovak aviator and war hero M. R. Stefanik, Smer chairman Robert Fico gave a speech full of praise for those who do not rest until they get what they want. Fico hailed Stefanik as goal-oriented and uncompromising, a leader who never shrank back and never kowtowed to anyone. In this way, BRATISLAVA 00000382 003 OF 003 Fico said, Stefanik was a model for all members of parliament to emulate. Fico's nationalistic tone may have pleased elements from Slovakia's nationalist party SNS and ultra-nationalist hate group Slovenska Pospolitost, who were in the crowd, even if Fico did not intend to court them. DIRTY TRICKS -------------- ¶14. (U) Campaign season in Slovakia is not without its dirty tricks. Several industrious mudslingers have come up with ways to place graffiti on billboards and sidewalk advertisements that looks convincingly like the fonts used in the original design; by doing so, they have changed billboards to read "Don't Vote for..." instead of "Vote for..." and, in a particularly eye-catching adjustment, changed a KDH billboard to read "A Decent Life... and Free Sex!" THINK FICO WILL WIN? PLACE YOUR BET! -------------- ¶15. (U) Slovakia's betting parlors recently received the government's blessing to take bets on the results of the June 17 election. VALLEE