Štefan Gašparovič is the mayor of a village familiar even to Czech food connoisseurs – Slovenský Grob, renowned as a paradise for goose delicacies. He is also an MP and the chair of the Czecho-Slovak Friendship Group.
Let me ask right from the start: Are you related to former President Gašparovič, and do you, like him, have Croatian roots?
I know President Ivan Gašparovič personally; he is even an honorary citizen of our village. I greatly value his work, but we are not related. The region where Slovenský Grob lies was historically settled by people of Croatian origin, but our family has no knowledge about having Croatian roots.
You chair the Czecho-Slovak Friendship Group in Parliament. Looking back over three decades, how do you view the split of Czechoslovakia? Was it even necessary? And if there had been a referendum at the time, how would you have voted?
I see it as the conclusion of a historical era that propelled both nations forward. It came at a time when its possibilities were simply exhausted, as both Czechs and Slovaks felt it was time to take responsibility for their future. Many people were undoubtedly disappointed by the dissolution of the shared state, but I believe far more ultimately welcomed the creation of their own republics with pride, joy, and optimism. Today, we view the peaceful resolution of Czechoslovakia‘s history as a success story because our peaceful separation will forever be recorded in world history as something unique. However, it‘s important to remember that the political negotiations were not straightforward, societal sentiments were somewhat unpredictable, and a referendum posed risks no one could afford. Imagine if the results had differed in Czechia and Slovakia – it could have caused incredible confusion. Hypothetically, though, I would have voted for the establishment of the independent Slovak Republic, and I’m very glad it eventually happened. If our peaceful separation was a historic event, then the extraordinary and genuinely heartfelt relations that Slovaks and Czechs maintain today are truly unparalleled around the world.
A key figure of that time is Václav Havel, president of both Czechoslovakia and later the Czech Republic. In the Czech Republic, he enjoys great respect among a large part of the public. How is he perceived in Slovakia, and what do you see as Havel‘s main significance for Slovaks today?
I think Václav Havel‘s greatest contribution to Slovakia was that he symbolized the irreversible transition of the entire country from a communist regime to democracy. People saw him as an advocate for human rights and freedoms, as well as a sincere opponent of totalitarianism. Naturally, Slovak citizens also perceive him through some of his controversial stances on Slovakia, stemming from his efforts as president of the shared state to preserve it – sometimes at the cost of suppressing the unique identities of both nations, which blossomed after the Velvet Revolution. Slovaks inevitably associate him with the so-called “hyphen war” and his role in dismantling Slovakia‘s arms industry. 13th check, we wouldn‘t join any government. Can you imagine us pursuing this priority in a government with PS or SaS? With SMER, we naturally had the most platform overlaps, which is why the 13th check is now a reality. So, it wasn‘t a “sudden shift” but the most natural decision based on the election results.
With Slovak President Peter Pellegrini.
A large portion of Czechs today supports Ukraine in its fight against Russia, and we‘ve accepted hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians. How would you explain the current stance of the Slovak government to Czechs, and where does it stem from? How might the war end if we stop supplying Ukraine with weapons and other aid?
Slovakia has done everything it can for Ukrainians fleeing the war. They are our neighbors, and after the war broke out, not only the state and local governments but also many individuals helped them in their own free time and at their own expense. Even today, we cooperate closely with Ukraine at the government level – the repeated joint meetings of Slovak and Ukrainian governments are unique in Europe and are more than just formal conferences as they address many concrete issues. Slovakia‘s support for Ukraine is absolutely unquestionable. The only thing the new government changed was halting state arms supplies to Ukraine, partly because the previous government sent weapons
You are a politician for HLAS-SD, which before the last election was considered part of Slovakia‘s liberal political landscape and was expected to form a government without Robert Fico and SMER. Can you explain the sudden shift after the recent parliamentary election and your participation in a government with SMER?
I‘m not sure who viewed HLAS as part of the liberal political landscape or expected it to form a government without SMER. If you mean liberal voters who supported Progressive Slovakia or SaS, those were their own expectations, not those of HLAS voters. We have always been a social- democratic party. Our main political goal is to strive towards a better life for people. Naturally, after the elections, we sought partners who would allow us to implement our priorities. For instance, we stated that without approving a fair and genuine abroad without leaving anything for Slovakia. The Slovak government is very emphatic in its stance that the global community‘s priority should be achieving peace and stopping the killing as soon as possible. Peace negotiations might be challenging and take years, but the key is to stop the violence – ideally tomorrow.
President Peter Pellegrini recently stated that Czecho-Slovak solidarity overcomes even current political disputes. As a government official, how will you contribute to this, and what can be done to ensure that this solidarity continues to grow and not wither?
President Pellegrini expressed a belief I share – that the warmth of relations between our nations overcomes even temporary political misunderstandings. It may happen that governments in our two countries belong to opposite ends of the political spectrum, making cooperation harder, but this doesn‘t change the sentiments of the people. Therefore, let‘s support economic cooperation, live vibrant cultural lives together, and support the students – the results will naturally follow. And if we can sometimes reinforce this with a strong shared political gesture, like the recent joint visit of our two presidents to the Slovak and Czech communities in the USA, even better.
Štefan Gašparovič with Czech Ambassador to Slovakia Rudolf Jindrák, Czech MP Radek Vondráček, and Slovak MP Dušan Tittel.
Where do you see the greatest potential for developing economic relations? What do you consider key Czecho-Slovak economic projects for the future?
Given the similar economic structures, nearly zero language barriers, and our shared membership in the EU, the possibilities are countless.
Czechia has dispatched one of its top diplomats, Rudolf Jindrák, to Slovakia. How important is it that Prague sent such an experienced diplomat to Bratislava?
It demonstrates the importance the Czech Republic attaches to its relationship with Slovakia, which I, as a politician, deeply appreciate.
Which places in Czechia do you personally like most? Where do you go for holidays?
My wife, children, and I often travel to Czechia. We enjoy visiting cultural landmarks, castles, and chateaus. We‘ve been to Český Krumlov, Telč, Hluboká nad Vltavou, Lednice, Valtice, Mikulov, Mikulčice, and Milotice. Being avid anglers, we‘ve vacationed and fished in Sedlec and at Lake Katlov in Červené Janovice. My mother is from Dubňany, so we regularly visit this town and nearby ones like Hodonín, Rohatec, and Mutěnice. My wife and I have also enjoyed long weekends in Brno and Znojmo. We‘ve taken our children to zoos in Zlín and Olomouc, and we often stop for lunch in Zaječí. For several years, our family has spent a pre-Christmas weekend in Prague. My wife and I have also visited the spas in Luhačovice, Karlovy Vary, and Františkovy Lázně.
The author is a European editor of Deník
CV BOX
Štefan Gašparovič (born January 26, 1974, in Bratislava) is a member of the National Council of the Slovak Republic for HLAS-SD, chair of the Czecho-Slovak Friendship Group in Parliament, and mayor of Slovenský Grob.
He studied law and started his career as a manager in a family business before venturing into winemaking and real estate development.
In 2006, he became a member of the Slovenský Grob Municipal Assembly, and from 2012 to 2016, he has an MP for SMER-SD in the National Council. He was elected mayor of Slovenský Grob in 2014, a position he still holds. In the 2023 election, he returned to Parliament as an MP for HLAS-SD.
As a former professional footballer, his hobbies include watching football and hockey games. He is also passionate about politics, education, culture, forest walks, mushroom picking, fishing, and hunting.
He is married to his wife Martina, and together they have four children – Štefan (27), Dominika (24), Filip (18), and Matúš (12).
