http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5a/Vladimir_meciar.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/16/Robert_Fico_official_gov_portrait.jpeg/230 px-Robert_Fico_official_gov_portrait.jpeg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Igor_Matovi%C4%8D.jpg/230px-Igor_Matovi%C4 %8D.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/Rudolf_Schuster_2011.jpg/220px-Rudolf_Schu ster_2011.jpg General conditions —Post 1989 Slovakia provided a solid base for populism — —Factors: —Negative economic impact after 1989 —Problematic realization of privatization of public property —Negative public image of domestic politics —Polarization of the party system (and the society) – peak in the 2nd half of the 90s Waves of populism in Slovakia —1. wave (emerged after 1989): —HZDS (Movement for Democratic Slovakia) —ZRS (Association of Slovak Workers) — —2. wave (1998-2002) —SOP (Party of Civic Understanding) —SMER (Direction) —ANO (Alliance of New Citizen) — —3. wave (around 2010) —OĽaNO (Ordinary People and Independent Personalities) — 1st wave (HZDS) —Separated from the main Slovak dissent movement — —Leader – Vladimír Mečiar (in lead until 2013) — —Dominating Slovak party in the 90s — —Usage of populism even after becoming part of the establishment — 1st wave (ZRS) —Separated from the transformed communists — —Radical left party with extensive use of populism — —Complex attacks on all ruling (and existing) parties — —Situated in a role of the defender of the betrayed masses — —Presented as the only „clean“ alternative — 2nd wave —Specific situation of the 2nd half of the 90s — —Extensive polarization of the party system — —Growing number of citizens and voters seeking for a „middle way“ — —These trends lead to emergence of different type of populist parties — — 2nd wave (SOP) —Created in 1998 by a popular mayor Rudolf Schuster who later became the Slovak president — —Centre / centre-left party with an aim to stay neutral — —Pressure of the culminating polarization of politics and society à SOP had to choose its bloc position — —Connection with anti-Mečiar parties resulted in decline of support — —Entering government 1998 started the end of the party 2nd wave (SMER and ANO) —Created after elections 1998 – still a strong polarization — —Main features: —Professional PR and communication —Party structure only as a secondary aim —Criticism of the establishment —Call for a new generation of Slovak politicians — —Differences: —SMER – denial of any ideological stance —ANO – openly centre-right liberal status Evaluation of V. Mečiar and M. Dzurinda by supporters (2001) Both positive VM positive MD negative MD positive VM negative Both negative Do not know (at least one) HZDS 5,2 88,1 0 2,2 4,5 SNS 1 57,3 6,3 20,8 14,6 KSS 0 44,9 6,1 42,9 6,1 SDKÚ 4 3 81,2 3 8,9 SMK 1,4 2,1 59,3 20,7 16,4 KDH 7,4 5,6 29,6 29,6 27,8 ANO 0 15,3 20,8 55,6 8,3 SMER 1,9 24,1 17,5 42,9 26,5 non-voters 1,2 14,7 13,5 44,1 13,7 undecided 1,5 14,2 16,1 38,7 29,5 3rd wave (OĽaNO) —Created before elections 2012 — —Structure: —Not a classical party (4 members) —Basis for independent candidates — —„Ideology“: —Strong criticism of parties and party system —Main topics – corruption, partitocracy — —The „Gorilla“ scandal as the main theme for the campaign http://www.webnoviny.sk/fotografia/466456/stredna/matovic.jpg HZDS ZRS SOP SMER ANO OĽaNO Created 1991 1994 1998 1999 2001 2011 Ideology Denial / mix of nat., pop. rad., soc. Radical left Vague, later centre-left Denial, later social demoratic Centre-right liberal Vague, independents Social groups Post 1989 losers Post 1989 losers Dissapointed Dissapointed Dissapointed Dissapointed Membership priority High Medium Low Low Low Non existing Special features Populist even after being main part of the system No party at all Success rate of populist parties Party 1st elections Entered government? 2nd elections HZDS 37,26 yes 34,96 ZRS 7,34 yes 1,3 SOP 8,01 yes 1,36 SMER 13,46 no 29,14 ANO 8,01 yes 1,42 OĽaNO 8,55 no -