Ľuboš Blaha, SMER’s vice-chairman and a Member of the Slovak Parliament, as well as a prominent figure in Slovak politics, marked his party’s 25th anniversary with a speech that starkly contrasted with the democratic ideals celebrated on 17 November—the 34th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution. His opening greeting, “Česť práci, súdružky a súdruhovia!”—translated as “Glory to labour, comrades!”—a communist-era slogan—mocked the legacy of the Velvet Revolution and signalled his alignment with authoritarian nostalgia.
Blaha’s speech was an unabashed display of pro-Kremlin rhetoric, introduced with a provocative reference to communist nostalgia. Opening his address, Blaha remarked, “I hope it is not forbidden on 17 November to greet you with a typical leftist salute: ‘Glory to labour, comrades!’” This statement, delivered on the anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, symbolised a stark repudiation of the democratic values that the day commemorates and signalled his alignment with authoritarian nostalgia.
Fresh from a visit to Russia, where he met with former President Dmitry Medvedev and praised his leadership, Blaha used the occasion to deliver a glowing endorsement of Slovakia’s ties to Moscow. He told his audience, “Just yesterday, I returned from the Russian Federation, where we discussed peace with our Russian friends.” By framing Russia as a peace-seeking ally, Blaha ignored the Kremlin’s aggression in Ukraine and echoed Moscow’s disinformation narrative, asserting that the Soviet Union had liberated Slovakia from “Western fascism.”
Blaha further sought to justify his alignment by invoking personal stakes: “I have three young children, including ten-month-old Jonáš. I don’t want him to one day be called to fight against Russia. As prime minister, like all SMER members, I will always do everything to prevent this.” This framing not only exploited parental fears but also positioned NATO as a threat to peace, reinforcing anti-Western sentiment in Slovak political discourse. By stoking fears of a war against Russia—a recurring theme in Kremlin propaganda—Blaha echoed Moscow’s strategy of portraying NATO as an aggressor, further aligning his rhetoric with Russian disinformation narratives.
This messaging comes with serious implications. As SMER consolidates power under Robert Fico, Blaha’s high-profile role and unchallenged rhetoric risk steering Slovakia away from its democratic commitments. Blaha’s alignment with Kremlin interests, echoed by Fico’s own government, further deepens these concerns. Fico’s foreign minister has held multiple meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, signalling a willingness to maintain close ties with Moscow despite its aggressive actions in Ukraine. Video footage from the anniversary event shows Fico visibly entertained by Blaha’s speech. This alignment undermines trust in NATO and the EU, threatening Slovakia’s security and stability in an increasingly volatile region.
Blaha’s speech illustrates not just personal conviction but a broader strategy to erode Slovakia’s pro-Western orientation. His glorification of Soviet history, coupled with his criticism of Western alliances, reveals a deliberate attempt to align Slovakia closer to Moscow. At a time when unity against authoritarian influence is critical, such rhetoric represents a direct challenge to the country’s democratic future.
Source: Victor Breiner | Slovak Media Monitor
