Sutaj Estok: Our Democracy Will Only Be as Good as We Are Ourselves (2)

Bratislava, 17 November (TASR) - Our democracy will only be as good as we are ourselves, stated Interior Minister and leader of the coalition Voice-SD party Matus Sutaj Estok on the occasion of the 36th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, appealing for decency and mutual respect. "Without dialogue, willingness and an ability to cooperate, listen to each other and respect each other, our society will be fragmented. Society will continue to suffer. We'll suffer from the absence of dialogue, without which democracy is too hard to swallow. I wish all of us, the whole of Slovakia, myself, and my political opponents and competitors the decency, calm, prudence and responsibility that the people on the squares and those who led them had in those historic days," he posted on social media. According to Sutaj Estok, 17 November is a reminder of decency. "It is paradoxical that even people who were completely different - dissidents and communists - were able to be decent to each other at that time ... The tool used by both sides was dialogue. Through it, they were able to find common ground and interests so that the transition from socialism to democracy would be a gentle one, without casualties," he said, claiming that the old regime wouldn't have ended if the opponents at the time had behaved like the current opposition and opted for vulgarity and personal attacks instead of discussion. According to the coalition Voice-SD party, 17 November isn't only a symbol of the struggle for freedom and democracy, but above all one for human dignity. It's one of the most important dates in modern history and reminds us that freedom isn't a given, but a value that must be protected. It's also a key day that shaped both freedom and statehood. "There are moments in history that can't be overlooked or set aside," emphasised Sutaj Estok. The Voice leader pointed out that Slovakia's future "sits at school desks", and the example set for students by politicians, teachers and society as a whole is important. At the same time, however, he believes that it's important to perceive and listen to the concerns and worldviews of the older generation, which shouldn't be disparaged. He thinks that no opinion should be elevated and others silenced, reiterating that Slovakia must remain an active and responsible member of the EU and NATO, but with the right to promote its national interests. Sutaj Estok also called on all those who have influence and the associated responsibility to set an example in decency, fairness, and respect for different opinions. "So that we don't deepen polarisation and can show what justice, dialogue and responsible leadership of the country and institutions mean," he said. am/df