EU Election Ignites Extreme Passions in Slovakia

On an unusually brisk afternoon in May, European flags fluttered alongside anti-fascist banners in Bratislava's old town on the banks of the Danube.

Demonstrators were protesting a meeting of European far-right parties in the Slovak capital ahead of this month's EU elections.

"Freedom is more than a nation," one placard read. "Fascists, entry forbidden," said another.

In a luxury hotel nearby, Marine Le Pen, head of France's National Rally party, was hobnobbing with like-minded ultra-nationalists including members of Austria's Freedom Party, Greece's New Right Party and Slovakia's Sme Rodina (We Are Family).

The anti-immigration populists hope to make big gains when Europeans go to the polls this week, upsetting the balance of power in an EU parliament long dominated by the centre-right.

European election campaigns are usually rather tame in Slovakia, which holds the record for the lowest voter turnout of any nation in the bloc.

But this year is different.

The latest poll by the Institute for Public Affairs, a Slovak think tank, shows unprecedented interest in the May 25 vote, with turnout projected to hit at least 21 per cent, up from 13 per cent five years ago.

Much of the enthusiasm is at the extremes of public opinion.

In one corner are liberal, democratic, pro-EU voters. Such people are likely to support the coalition of Progressive Slovakia and SPOLU (PS/SPOLU), two young parties united in common appreciation for EU membership.

"For me, but also for most Slovaks, Europe means freedom, safety, democracy and the future," said Michal Simecka, an MEP candidate for the coalition, wrapped in a blue European flag as he joined protestors on the banks of the Danube.

At the other extreme are supporters...