MODERN DISSENTERS

WHY CIVIL SOCIETY MUST SAVE DEMOCRACY 35 YEARS AFTER THE FALL OF COMMUNISM

Journalist and author Michal Hvorecky is one of the most prominent voices in Slovakia speaking out against Prime Minister Robert Fico and his increasingly authoritarian behaviour. Hvorecky, who campaigns for freedom of the press, freedom of expression and artistic freedom, is being put under massive pressure by the Fico government on behalf of many artists; he is facing a five-year prison sentence for criticising the culture minister of his home country. In his new book „Dissident“, he describes his personal memories and experiences as a young man after the fall of the Berlin Wall - and the threatened democracy of the present day. „Dissident“, which Hvorecky is presenting at the Bruno Kreisky Forum, is a plea for dissent and resistance.

Michal Hvorecky, Author, honoured with several literary prizes and was a fellow of the Literary Colloquium Berlin.

Cathrin Kahlweit, SZ correspondent, publicist and presenter for many years