New anthem of Slovakia: national pride or cultural degradation?

New anthem of Slovakia: national pride or cultural degradation?

A storm of controversy is brewing in Slovakia! The right-wing nationalist government of Prime Minister Robert Fico has introduced a new arrangement of the national anthem to promote national pride. On Wednesday evening there was the first performance of this new version, played by the Bratislava Philharmonic, at a New Year's concert in Bratislava. Culture Minister Martina Simkovicova, who initiated the project, was so moved while listening to the anthem that she wrote on Facebook that she felt “goosebumps on her soul and body.” This anthem had not undergone any changes for 32 years and has now been revised with an arrangement by the composer Oskar Rozsa, who received 46,500 euros for it, which met with strong criticism in times of strict austerity policies, such as today.at reported.

A worrying trend

The new version of the anthem begins purely instrumental, similar to the Russian anthem, and ends with sounds of the traditional Fujara flute. While the government sees the change as strengthening national cohesion, opposition leader Michal Simecka expressed sharp criticism and spoke of an “unacceptable degradation of a national symbol”. He emphasized that hymns should be for all people. Simkovicova, known for her controversial views on conspiracy theories and her pro-Russian statements, has also made cuts to various cultural institutions and LGBTQ organizations. This leads many to fear that this anthem change has initiated a dangerous trend towards greater nationalism and exclusion.

The text of the anthem, which is now being brought back to the stage, bears a frightening similarity to the earlier imperial song “Heil dir im Siegerkranz”, which, among other things, addresses the veneration of the emperor and establishes a connection to not only nationalist but also monarchist ideas. When the anthem was once popular, it was seen as symbolic of power and loyalty, which now, in modern times, raises significant questions about the direction in which Slovak society might develop. The change in national identity and the symbols associated with it could have profound social effects, such as Wikipedia commented.