BRATISLAVA: Disillusioned Slovaks are turning to the power of prayer in the hope of cleaning up politicians widely regarded as corrupt. More than 400 people have vowed to pray for the politician of their choice for at least five minutes a day for six months since the Internet initiative was launched on Tuesday. “Some people choose their favorite politician, while others might pray for their least favorite lawmaker in order to change their behavior,” a woman said. She declined to name the politicians who have mustered the most prayers so far.
Slovak politics were rocked to the core last year when a secret-service file code-named Gorilla leaked on the Internet revealed alleged links between oligarchs from a private financial group and nearly all of the country’s political elite.
The leak has inspired the rise of the Internet-fueled “anti-Gorilla” movement, attracting thousands to rallies in Slovakia’s capital Bratislava. But more than a year after the scandal erupted, police are still investigating and have yet to press charges.
‘A prayer a day’ for Slovak politicians
