Democrats (Slovakia)

The Democrats (Slovak: Demokrati, D), previously known as the Blue Coalition (Slovak: Modrá koalícia, MK), is a Slovak political party founded in 2023 by former Prime Minister Mikuláš Dzurinda on the legal base of the SPOLU party.[1][2] It is led by prime minister Eduard Heger since 7 March 2023.

Democrats
Demokrati
LeaderEduard Heger
ChairmanMiroslav Kollár
Vice ChairmenAndrea Letanovská
Pavel Nechala
Natália Plevková Svítková
FoundersMikuláš Dzurinda
Miroslav Kollár
Founded27 January 2023 (2023-01-27) (Blue Coalition)
7 March 2023 (2023-03-07) (Democrats)
Preceded bySPOLU (Blue Coalition)
Civic Democratic Platform[lower-alpha 1] (Democrats)
HeadquartersPalisády 33
811 06 Bratislava-Staré Mesto
Youth wingMladí SPOLU
IdeologyLiberal conservatism
Pro-Europeanism
Political positionCentre-right
European affiliationEuropean People's Party
European Parliament groupEuropean People's Party
ColoursDemocrats:
  Magenta,   Purple,   Turquoise,
Blue Coalition:
    Blue
National Council
12 / 150
European Parliament
1 / 14
Regional governors
0 / 8
Regional deputies[lower-alpha 2]
36 / 419
Mayors[lower-alpha 2]
7 / 2,904
Local councillors[lower-alpha 2]
184 / 20,462
Website
www.smedemokrati.sk

Ideology

Loyalty to Western civilization, membership in the European Union and NATO, protection of democracy and the rule of law, and a sustainable and competitive economy are the three pillars that must be accepted by parties and politicians who would like to join the Blue Coalition. Dzurinda criticizes modern political culture in parliament and the "cultural wars" of liberals with conservatives. Dzurinda called to unite them.[2][3]

History
Blue Coalition logo

Earlier, Dzurinda had already planned to create his own liberal-conservative political force "The Blues – European People's Party", but the announcement of early elections changed his plans.[2]

On 27 January 2023, after the announcement of a snap election, Dzurinda presented the Blue Coalition, thereby returning to Slovak politics after leaving it 10 years ago. At a press conference, Dzurinda presented his project, with which he wants to fight "for a European Slovakia", wants to be "a reasonable alternative to the mafia and chaos" and "for a modern and educated Slovakia". He called the Blue Coalition his new political home.[3][4] Dzurinda's press conference was attended by former members of the SDKÚ-DS and leader of the SPOLU party Miroslav Kollár.[5] Both the leader of ODS and the leader of Democrats of Slovakia, minor centre-right parties which cooperated with SPOLU, announced their support for the Blue Coalition.[6][7]

It is currently led by Prime Minister of Slovakia Eduard Heger.[8] Dzurinda left the project soon after.

Criticism

The leader of the Christian Democratic Movement criticized Dzurinda's "dream" of uniting the KDH, SaS and PS in the elections, saying that the "non-aggression pact" with the Progressives in the last elections brought damage to the party.[9][10]

Notes
  1. splinter faction from OĽaNO
  2. Also with coalitions

References
  1. "Strana Spolu mení názov. Po novom sa bude volať Modrá koalícia". www.trend.sk (in Slovak). 2023-01-24. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  2. TA3, TA3 COM | TELEVÍZIA. "Jablko aj Modrá koalícia. Do boja o parlamentné kreslá vstupujú nové politické subjekty - 2". TA3 (in Slovak). Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  3. a.s, Petit Press. "Nepovedal, či Modrú koalíciu povedie, novinárov poučoval. Dzurinda predstavil svoj návrat do politiky". domov.sme.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  4. "Expremiér Mikuláš Dzurinda predstavil základy a členov Modrej koalície". www.trend.sk (in Slovak). 2023-01-27. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  5. Aktuality.sk (26 January 2023). "Dzurindova strana: Modrá koalícia dnes ukáže nové tváre". Aktuality.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  6. Zuzana Kovačič Hanzelová, Oliver Kostanjevec (27 January 2023). "Macko: Modrú koalíciu som navrhoval pred rokom, bolo to odmietnuté". SME Domov (in Slovak). Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  7. Ľudovít Kaník (28 January 2023). "Mikulaš Dzurinda to povedal veľmi dobre". Facebook (in Slovak). Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  8. "Slovenský premiér Heger končí v Matovičově hnutí. Stal se lídrem Demokratů". Deník.cz (in Czech). 7 March 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  9. "Šéf KDH: Dzurindova Modrá koalícia? Neznámi ľudia a Miro Kollár nie sú nádejou na úspech". Pravda.sk (in Slovak). 2023-02-01. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  10. "M. Majerský v Na telo PLUS: Dzurindova Modrá koalícia mi pripomína OĽaNO, Hegerovi som ponúkol dvojku na kandidátke | TVNOVINY.sk". tvnoviny.sk (in Czech). Retrieved 2023-02-03.
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