TÃÂmea VeÂres: The PolitÂiÂcal Come-back of Tuka
The author deals with Vojtech Tuka’s politÂiÂcal comeÂback after his imprisÂonÂmenÂt. Tuka is a conÂtroÂverÂsial figÂure of the SloÂvak hisÂtoÂry. He was conÂsidÂered irreÂdenÂtist, feelÂing with HunÂgarÂiÂanÂs, but at the same time SloÂvak patriÂot, marÂtyr, and the father of SloÂvak indeÂpenÂdence, too.
In his study pubÂlished on JanÂuÂary 1, 1928 titled VacÂuÂum iuris, he raised the examÂiÂnaÂtion of Czech and SloÂvak nationÂal politÂiÂcal relaÂtionÂship. The Czech govÂernÂmenÂt, referÂring to their sediÂtious diviÂsive activÂiÂty, and/or that they made a milÂiÂtary treaÂson (spied for HunÂgaÂry), begun a lawÂsuit against it. On OctoÂber 6, 1929 he was senÂtenced for 15 years imprisÂonÂmenÂt. The CzechosloÂvak Secret ServÂicÂes had a sigÂnifÂiÂcant role in conÂdemÂnaÂtion of Tuka that proÂvidÂed eviÂdence against him, that could not be used durÂing the lawÂsuit, but the key witÂnessÂes were made to tesÂtiÂfy.
It is bewilÂderÂing that he could come back to polÂiÂticÂs, even if we know that the GerÂmans were on his side, and the chaotÂic politÂiÂcal sitÂuÂaÂtion before the SecÂond World War played an imporÂtant role, too.
The issue of Tuka’s amnesty arose at the cenÂtral govÂernÂment many times, and/or withÂin the SloÂvak PeoÂple’s ParÂty, although both parÂties wantÂed to use it in the most conÂvenÂient time. After moÂre unsucÂcessÂful tryÂings meetÂing of inÂteÂrest was reached by the PresÂiÂdenÂtial elecÂtions in 1935.
Edvard BeneÅ¡ could not be cerÂtain in his vicÂtoÂry until the time when the SloÂvak PeoÂple’s ParÂties of HlinÂka type were behind him, and/or the agrarÂiÂans waitÂing for the deciÂsions of the PeoÂple’s ParÂty. One of the conÂdiÂtions of the PeoÂple’s Party was proÂvidÂing Tuka with amnesty that BeneÅ¡ conÂnectÂed with a conÂfesÂsion.
Tuka wrote his conÂfesÂsion at the Pankrác prison in Prague, and sent it to BeneÅ¡, who was the MinÂisÂter of ForÂeign Affairs at that time, in April 1935. In the docÂuÂmenÂt, he conÂfessed his anti-sÂtate, subÂverÂsive activÂiÂty, although he rejectÂed milÂiÂtary betrayÂal.
After BeneÅ¡ became PresÂiÂdenÂt, he did not forÂget his promise, although Tuka’s amnesty had an influÂenÂtial oppoÂnenÂt. The MinÂisÂter of JusÂtice, who was of SloÂvak origÂin, Ivan DérÂer, did not want to free Tuka, and at the same time he wantÂed to resist the impact of the press made by the PeoÂple’s ParÂty.
In May 1937 DérÂer, in mediÂaÂtion of BeneÅ¡, was willÂing to disÂcuss on amnesty. Its meanÂing was that Tuka can spend the remainÂing time of his punÂishÂment on conÂdiÂtionÂal release, livÂing at a flat assigned for him, under conÂstant superÂviÂsion.
In June 1937 Tuka was transÂferred from the Pankrác in Prague to the Bory in Plzeò. He worked as the prison’s librarÂiÂan, accordÂing to other sources he was also employed as typÂist at the disÂtrict court. The periÂod spent in Plzeò was peaceÂful, his wife was enabled to be with him and it was allowed to him to proÂvide sciÂenÂtifÂic work. Although, the peaceÂful periÂod soon endÂed. On SepÂtemÂber 29, 1938, under the Munich deciÂsion the GerÂman terÂriÂtoÂriÂal requireÂments toward CzechoÂsloÂvaÂkia were agreed. Thus, the way to the decÂlaÂraÂtion of SloÂvaÂkia’s autonÂoÂmy was clear and Tuka’s return to SloÂvaÂkiÂa, as well.