Gorila case Interview with Robert Mihaly

We bring you interview with Robert Mihály, one of the activists and supporters of Gorila protest in Slovakia.

Q:
Why was the 4th Gorilla protest, planned for this Sunday in Bratislava, canceled?

A:
Cancellation of the protest was intended to create some room for constructive debate about the next steps, and possibilities of involving both the public and professionals. The fact so many people marched out to the streets has shown that people insist on a change. But now it's important to get to concrete and constructive steps, around which more protests will be organized since protesting is one of the few legal coercive means available.

Q:
There will be a large Slovakia-wide protest against Gorilla on 15th of March. what will be the result you think?

A:
It's hard to project. No one expected such high attendance and public reaction on the first Gorilla protest, so it exceeded the initial goal to protest against the Gorilla case and corruption. The protests resulted in the need for complex changes of the system and started the awakening of an apathetic public. A protest involving all of Slovakia would be the best and most visible signal that people didn't fall back into apathy, and they require a fundamental change and healing of our bad socio-political situation.

Q:
The requirements of the organizers of Gorilla protests are still changing. Do you have your vision, your personal ideas, how to solve the current situation?

A:
The requirements were one of the weakest links in the whole development process, I didn't agree with some of them because I didn't consider them important or passable from the law point of view. In my opinion, a viable solution would be to change the voting system, letting independent people who are not organized in a political party to run. Strict control over financing of political subjects, and publishing of the state budget with all the transactions and contracts; and mainly increasing public participation possibilities which means introduction of obligatory referendum, electronic petitions and referendums, and the change of quorum of needed signatures.

Q:
How did your criminal report on the security member who damaged your possessions in the building of Slovak Parliament, go?

A:
The criminal report was a bit hasty, since I didn't realize at the moment the legal amount of 266 euro. So it was only a misdemeanor but still, it's the principle I am after. As it turned out I'm banned from the parliament building, which is violation of my right to attend public parliament meetings both according to me and my lawyer. I will be informed about the results within 2 weeks.

Q:
There are rumors about the financing of the Gorilla protest by KDH (Christian Democratic Party) or the 99% party to weaken the influence of their competitors. Do you know how these protest are financed? Can you tell us and refute these rumors?

A:
I am certain these are just speculations. Criticism was aimed towards all the "20 year old" political parties including KDH. About the 99% party - they tried to give out propagation flyers to the protesters but they were firmly asked to leave since it is a public protest. The protests are low budget, some of the things we get from our sources
other things like generators, sound tech or other material was offered by people for free based on the appeal on the internet.

Q:
Do you personally believe that there is a political party involved in the releasing of the Gorilla file?

A:
Of course you will find some people that benefit from publishing this material before the elections. The timing is most interesting. But as I said, from the protest against names and parties- from this file a movement emerged. A movement that won't be satisfied with punishment of the ones involved. Systemiv change that the protesters demand would prevent such scenarios in the future and stop the plans of possible political games.

Q:
Do you think that this case can change the minds of Slovakians before the elections or create a platform to really solve the corruption problem?

A:
Even before the publishing of the cause it was certain that this year election attendance will be the worst in history of Slovakia. The current situations says it will be even lower than that. Even if someone will be able to put together a government, from the moral point of view they won't have the mandate to represent their voters. Some people won't go to the elections or thrown in an empty envelope, since they have no one to vote for, no one to trust and they don't believe anyone will defend their interests. Then there are people who vote for the same parties each and every time and they won't change even with these evidence of corruption of their party. The third group are the people who will go vote for lesser evil, because they think that this way they will stop the corrupt politicians. I don't believe the situation will change unless we force the required systemic changes. That is why I personally will throw in an empty envelope as a protest.

Q:
Do you think that the Gorilla case could be some sort of symbol of fight against corruption outside of Slovakia, or that it can have impact outside Slovakia?

A:
I believe in change, I believe this case was a springboard for the public mindset, and whether democratic will can be realized. If this megacase won't move the ice in Slovakia, then we can turn off the lights and slam the door behind us.