NATIONALIST PARTY SEEKS A SLOVAKIA FOR SLOVAKS IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000436

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM SOCI LO
SUBJECT: NATIONALIST PARTY SEEKS A SLOVAKIA FOR SLOVAKS IN
UPCOMING ELECTIONS

REF: A. BRATISLAVA 417


B. BRATISLAVA 404

C. BRATISLAVA 382

Classified By: Ambassador Rodolphe M. Vallee for Reasons
1.4 (B) and (D).


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Slovak Nationalist Party (SNS),which
enjoys 10 to 11 percent support in recent polls, is expected
to return to Parliament after a four year absence following
June 17 parliamentary elections. SNS is infamous for its
ethnocentric, often racist, rhetoric, and the party continues
to espouse an anti-foreigner, anti-minority program, which
includes rhetoric about cutting aid to minorities and
de-emphasizing Slovakia's involvement with international
organizations such as NATO and the WTO, and promoting a
"national" strategy in the EU. These sentiments were evident
in an interview hard-drinking SNS Leader Jan Slota recently
gave to the English-language weekly "The Slovak Spectator,"
in which he blamed "American adventurism" for terrorist
attacks in Europe. Unfortunately, only one Slovak political
party has definitely ruled out serving in a coalition with
SNS. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) BACKGROUND: Poloffs met with SNS spokesman Rafael
Rafaj, who is also number 12 on SNS' electoral list, to
discuss the party's priorities and plans following the
upcoming elections, in which SNS is expected to return to
Parliament. The nationalists' failure to gain seats in the
2002 elections was the result of a 2001 split in the party,
when current deputy Chairwoman Anna Belousovova (formerly
Anna Malikova) forced out the controversial Slota, who
responded by forming the Real Slovak Nationalist Party
(PSNS). SNS and PSNS gained 3.32 and 3.65 percent,
respectively, of valid votes cast in 2002, thus failing to
reach the 5 percent threshold needed to win seats in
Parliament. The two factions reconciled in 2003 when Slota
again became Leader of SNS. (COMMENT. Poloffs have heard from
various sources that the animosity between Belousovova and
Slota has not diminished despite their public rapprochement.
END COMMENT.)

SNS' POST-ELECTION PROGRAM
--------------


3. (SBU) Although Rafaj acknowledged that SNS has
historically been seen as conservative and right-wing, SNS
does not consider itself to be rightist, leftist,
conservative, or liberal. SNS does not, according to Rafaj,
act out of ideology, but rather in the interests of the
Slovak nation. While the party's founding principles of
conservatism and patriotism remain the same, its pre-election
program contains a new element: pragmatism. SNS is focusing
on the defense of Slovak national interests, particularly
social aspects. Rafaj highlighted privatization as a key
topic prior to elections, explaining that privatization had
proceeded too quickly in the past eight years and that some
decisions would have to be reviewed. (COMMENT. Rafaj looked
uncomfortable when Poloff asked if privatization decisions
taken between 1993 and 1998, when SNS was the junior partner
of HZDS in Vladimir Meciar's government, could also be
reviewed. Rafaj replied that SNS would consider "reopening"
any contracts or deals that were unfavorable to Slovakia.
END COMMENT.)


4. (SBU) Other SNS priorities include improving housing and
completing the east-west highway within the next four years.
(COMMENT: Completing the long delayed east-west highway is a
goal of every party expected to make it into the next
Parliament. END COMMENT.) By improving housing for young
families, SNS aims to encourage both family values and the
relocation of young families to regions with greater
employment prospects. A north-south highway in the east of
the country, "from Poland, through Presov and connecting to
southern highways" is another priority. (COMMENT: The
"southern highway" to which this north-south route would
connect could only be the Hungarian M3, although Rafaj
clearly preferred not even to voice the name of Slovakia's
southern neighbor. END COMMENT.) Rafaj believes the party's
new pragmatic approach to social issues will broaden its
coalition potential after elections. The only parties with
which SNS will definitely not cooperate are SMK (the Party of
the Hungarian Coalition) and KSS (the Communist Party of
Slovakia).

SNS' PLANS TO RESTRUCTURE GOVERNMENT
--------------


5. (SBU) SNS advocates changing some aspects of governmental
structure, both externally and internally. SNS would like to
reduce the number of Slovakia's regions from the current
eight to three plus two independent metropolises of
Bratislava and Kosice. (COMMENT. Slovakia moved from a three
regions plus Bratislava division to the current eight region

format while governed by a HZDS-SNS coalition. END COMMENT.)
SNS would also like to combine the Ministry of Education with
Culture, and the Ministry of Economy with Construction and
Regional Development.


6. (SBU) Interior is the most interesting ministry for SNS
if it is able to join the next government and Rafaj said SNS
would nominate Slota for the post. The Ministry of Transport
is SNS' second preferred ministry.

PARTY CONTINUES ANTI-HUNGARIAN POLITICS
--------------


7. (C) A meeting with SNS would not be complete without a
discussion of the Hungarian minority in Slovakia (although,
surprisingly, Rafaj did not mention SNS' other nemesis,
Roma). Rafaj referenced a recent report that found the
average size of homes and apartments in the 11 southern-most
counties of Slovakia is substantially larger than the average
for the rest of the country. SNS interprets this as a sign
that the Hungarian South is not be as poor as estimated, and
that aid should therefore be diverted to the North and East
of Slovakia. (COMMENT: Socio-economic statistics indicate
that the predominantly Hungarian regions of southern Slovakia
are among the poorest in the country. This comes as a result
of several factors, including an agricultural and rural base
and the presence of a large Roma population. END COMMENT.)
Rafaj also complained about the SMK taking three ministries
which together control all Euro-funds in the current
government. Rafaj said the SMK had abused this position to
"steal" Euro-funds for its ethnic-Hungarian voters. SNS
continues to view Hungarian secession as a real threat to
Slovakia. Rafaj emphasized the importance of ensuring SMK not
be included in the next government.

OPPOSES FOREIGN INVOLVEMENT BUT WOULD UPHOLD POLICIES
-------------- --------------


8. (SBU) On foreign policy, Rafaj claimed that SNS has
moderated its stance on NATO and EU membership. He noted
that SNS shares the same values as the "Union for Europe of
the Nations" political group in the European Parliament, with
which SNS is associated. (COMMENT: That grouping includes the
Polish conservative ruling Party of Law and Justice (PiS) and
the Scottish Nationalist Party. END COMMENT.) Rafaj stressed
that SNS holds a Euro-realist view, but is against further
political integration and the proposed Constitutional Treaty.
Although SNS had initially opposed Slovakia's membership to
NATO, Rafaj said that it would not try to leave the treaty
now. In fact, SNS would support NATO and EU membership for
Ukraine and Serbia. Rafaj first said that SNS does not
support missions outside the European theater (i.e. Kosovo),
but then corrected himself to say that SNS would support
missions sanctioned by the UN Security Council. Above all,
SNS advocates closer cooperation of Slavic nations along the
lines of the English Commonwealth or the French Francophonie.


9. (C) Rafaj was sharply critical of Slovakia's recent
military reforms, but seemed to know little about them.
(COMMENT: Rafaj spoke about the best way to utilize
Slovakia's small force of 27,000. According to January
figures from the MoD, Slovakia has 17,017 uniformed soldiers.
END COMMENT.) With reference to a demonstration of the
C-130J-30 that DefMin Fedor had attended the previous day,
Rafaj also questioned Slovakia's need for military aircraft
that can travel 5,000 km when the country itself is merely
600 km long. He said Slovakia should first invest in fighter
aircraft to protect its own territory since Slovakia would be
no good to NATO if it could not even defend its own
territory. Rafaj also criticized Slovakia's recent donation
of 500,000,000 SKK (1,700,000 USD) worth of excess military
supplies to Afghanistan as a betrayal of the nation when
money cannot even be found to provide basic protections
against biochemical terrorist attacks such as a gas mask for
every citizen. (COMMENT: NATO has urged Slovakia and other
new members to purchase medium range cargo aircraft and has
discouraged the purchase of new fighters. The military
equipment donated to Afghanistan was outdated, unused
material from Slovak stockpiles that was costing more to
store than it did to donate. Poloff was left feeling that
being a fascist must require an extraordinary amount of
brain-power given that it leaves so little left-over for
getting facts straight. END COMMENT.)

SLOTA ON ROMA, HUNGARIANS, AND "AMERICAN ADVENTURISM"
-------------- --------------


10. (U) An interview with SNS chairman Jan Slota was
published in Slovakia's English-language journal Spectator
the week of May 22, and highlighted the leader's racist
attitudes towards Hungarians and Roma, his disdain for
international politics, and his love of the bottle. Slota
was confident that SNS would win at least 12 percent of the
vote on the June 17 elections, and went so far as to say that
"most Slovaks are like (him)" in that they agree with his

extreme views. He called the leaders and intellectuals who
oppose him "scum," and said that he believes LS-HZDS leader
and former coalition partner Vladimir Meciar should withdraw
from Slovak politics.


11. (U) Slota made many of his usual ethnocentric arguments
against the Hungarian and Roma minorities in Slovakia,
claiming that these two groups were his "problem" and the
problem of SNS. He labeled the high birth rate of the Roma
population as "dangerous" for Slovakia, and compared it to
the growth of the Albanian minority in Kosovo. As a result,
the ancestors of the "thousands of Serbs who fell before the
gates of European culture and European Christianity," are
being denied there home. Slota attacked Islam, blaming Muslim
fundamentalists for events in Spain, Germany, the United
Kingdom, and France. The SNS Leader argued that last years
conflicts in France and the bombings in London were a "result
of the fact that the policy of the European Union was so
receptive to American adventurism."


12. (U) In reference to foreign policy, Slota took an almost
condescending attitude. He regarded Slovakia's entry into
NATO as a product of the "adventurism of the United States,"
which itself was "counter-productive." In fact, Slota said
that if SNS was part of the next GOS, its ministers would
demand the withdrawal of Slovak troops from Iraq by the end
of 2006 at the latest. EU involvement was also problematic
for Slota; he mentioned that his party was strongly against
the closure of the Jaslovske Bohunice nuclear plant, the
closure of which is a condition set out in the ratified
treaty of accession. Slota claimed to have no interest in
changing Slovakia's current foreign policies, and planned to
follow the path that the government had taken thus far.
Slota vowed not to leave any agreements to which Slovakia
belongs, such as NATO, and also discussed his ideal vision
for Europe: a "union of strong nation states that would
cooperate," rather than one based on a strong federal system.


13. (U) SNS holds a rather conservative stance in domestic
policies as well, although it is in favor of the flat tax
with the exception of basic foodstuffs. Slota's zeal for
tradition and homogeneity carry over to Slovak society, where
he believes that women have become "emancipated," seeking
education and careers in place of families, and thus causing
the high divorce rate.


14. (C) COMMENT: Slota's outrageous comments appeal to a
section of Slovak society which admires his frankness and
macho image and thinks that he has helped the town of which
he is mayor, Zilina, prosper. His numerous bouts of public
drunkenness, one of which was filmed recently, have caused
some to question his fitness for office. Although initially
several mainstream parties, including Smer and SDKU, rushed
to tell us they would not consider including SNS in a
coalition, this seems to be changing recently, as parties are
striving to keep all options open for after the June 17
election. One prominent SDKU official even noted that Slota
with a ministry was not much different than ANO's Pavol Rusko
in the last government. Embassy officers behind the scenes
have made it known that one of our main goals is promoting
tolerance and diversity in Slovak society. The unlikely, but
still possible, inclusion of SNS in a future ruling coalition
would present an additional challenge to promoting this
objective. For the time being, we avoid meeting with him.
VALLEE