Central Eastern Europeans losing faith in politics
The change of leadership that took place in Slovakia in March has proven unable to calm the wave of protest shaking the country. In a surprise move, the new Interior Minister Tomáš Drucker resigned on Monday. Commentators take stock of the Central Europeans' growing dissatisfaction with their leaders.
This is not what a new start looks like
Interior Minister Drucker and the new head of government Pellegrini have failed to end the mass protests, Dennik N writes:
“The two were supposed to calm the situation. Pellegrini and Drucker, the promising faces of the governing party Smer. Young, well-dressed and able to give an answer to all questions put to them. Their mission was clear. They were to get the people off the street and campaign to gain their confidence. Now Tomáš Drucker has stepped down. This gesture can only mean that he was unable to rise to the challenge. Not with this government, not with this party.”
The street is growing stronger
There have been mass protests not only in Slovakia but also in the other three Visegrád states, the Czech daily Hospodářské noviny reminds readers:
“Tens of thousands marched in Budapest against Fidesz and in the Czech Republic against Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and the pressure being put on the independent public media. Protests also take place regularly in Poland against the conservative government. Central Europe has not yet been infected by the fever, nevertheless the people are making it clear to their governments that they're dissatisfied. Thirty years after the transition from authoritarian systems to liberal democracies, this dissatisfaction is like a fateful message. Although the protests are for the moment still an expression of despair, the street is steadily growing stronger.”