Slovakia on the Brink, with Michal Salini

In the first episode of my podcast, “Loosely Eastern Europe,” I talk to the UN Youth Delegate of Slovakia, Michal Salini.

We talk about his mandate and responsibilities as the UN Youth Delegate, and his experience working with the youth in Slovakia.

Then we talk about the work Michal has done for the Slovakian president Zuzana Caputova and her presence in central-eastern Europe among demagogues. We talk about her role and the ways she can influence the increased polarization in the country.

Then we address the collapse of Slovakia’s PM Eduard Heger’s government in December 2022 and what an interim government might look like.

We also compare the state of democracy in Slovakia vs. Hungary and Poland, address the unanimity vote in the EU, and why we should remain hopeful about the state of democracy in the region.

Here’s the link to the interview.

And if you need a little more background on Slovakian political affairs. Here’s a brief summary.

I hope you enjoy.

Beautiful Slovakia. Photo by Branislav Knappek on Unsplash

My home country, Slovakia, was let into the EU in 2004 along with a host of other countries (in the 2004 EU enlargement, which included the Czech R. Cyprus, the Baltic states, Poland, Slovenia, and others).