Slovakia. 350 bears. The expert comments on the government of Robert Fico

The Slovak government announced an extraordinary state in most of the country and announced 350 bears. The Warsaw Institute's expert, Jan Rafael Lupomesky, said that for Robert Fico's government, it is a response to the expectations of society and a chance to show agency.

March 30 near the city of Detva in the Banskobystrzycki country the corpse of a 59-year-old man was found. The alleged cause of death were wounds suffered as a result of a bear attack, which was confirmed on Wednesday, April 2.

The problem is not new, last year on Slovakia 1900 human contacts with Bear, including 13 attacks, were recorded. This resulted in a reduction in the population of this predator by 144 pieces.

Slovakia plans to shoot 350 bears

After the Sunday tragedy, the Slovak government decided to take much more drastic steps – in most of the country an extraordinary state was introduced and 350 bears were announced.

Prime Minister Robert Fico thundered that one could not live in a country where people are afraid to go to the forest, while the deputy prime minister and minister of the environment Tomasz Taraba argued that the right level of the number of bears in Slovakia was 800 pieces. As noted by the Warsaw Institute expert, Jan Rafael Lupomesky, conducted by Czechs Research indicates that there are about 1300, while the Slovak Forest Institute estimates that the population can be much higher – up to 3200.

“One political fire after the other, and Fico can't keep up with them”

Scientists consider this solution too radical, and at the same time ineffective. Where did the determination of representatives of the Slovak government come from to carry them out quickly?

As Jan Rafael Lupomesky explained, the Bear's case appeared at the Extremely Incompatible for the Fico Cabinet.

– This is his fourth government. And the most difficult of all. One political fire breaks out in Slovakia after the other, and Fico is not keeping up with them. A year after the election, the coalition government lost the marshal and the majority in parliament. In March, it seemed that the situation was quite mastered, because Fico tamed the rebelling members of the coalition parties with the functions of ministers and deputy ministers. Added to this is his very bold game against Ukraine and Randes Vous Z Russia – the expert mentioned.

– In this situation, plagues fell on Slovakia. Around March 20, a pimple appeared, which is a huge problem, five outbreaks of the disease were already located, which required a few thousand cattle. A state of emergency was announced and traffic at border crossings with the Czech Republic was limited Hungary. On Sunday, however, the bear killed a man – he mentioned.

The expert pointed out that the population of these predators in Slovakia has been growing for several years, which results in increasingly frequent incidents. Earlier, the shot of the bear was extremely difficult. Therefore, in June last year, the Slovak parliament adopted a law in which the conditions under which the mass elimination of these animals could be carried out. One of them is the introduction of an extraordinary state. – Precisely because of this law, this state was announced. Interestingly, he touches in most of the country, but because of the pimples, “noted Lupomesky.

“The government wants to show that the business, or the health and life of Slovaks, puts over the European interest”

In his opinion, this, to some extent, skirmish with the European Union, although it does not play a key role in this matter. – Ecoactivists protest against the announced shot of the bear, citing European protection, while the government wants to show that the interest, or the health and life of Slovaks, puts above the European interest – explained the expert.

As Lupomesky argued, in Slovakia voices of opposition to such a radical solution are mainly voices of activists. Among the Slovaks is dominated by concern with the attacks of bear and the belief that if nature carries some threats, they should be fought. For the government, Fico is a chance to show the ability to deal with another crisis.

– On the other hand, the deputy prime minister and head of the Ministry of the Environment Tomasz Taraba has, I would say, radically a “biblical” approach to nature. In this way, his grouping (Slovak National Party – ed.), Solving the problem of bear attacks, tries to show his agency – he added.

As the expert summed up, Robert Fico came to power, because he managed to arouse the impression that he was a leader not shiding from hard and decisive solutions. Actions in terms of the scourge falling on its country, including bear attacks, is an attempt to play on the same string.