Unia-Party for Slovakia - Bratislava, 2010

The text reads: "More for our city", "Heart for Bratislava". Unia ran a greater variety of different billboards during the campaign than any other party, despite their fringe status. Is Záhradník wearing red lipstick in this picture? He appears to be trying to present himself as a potential heart-throb...

Unia-Party for Slovakia - Bratislava, 2010

The text reads: "Free internet for everyone". This ad contradicts an earlier Unia billboard where they criticised SaS for offering free internet, claiming they were out of touch with the real needs of voters (since many couldn't afford computers).

Unia-Party for Slovakia - Bratislava, 2010

The text reads: "Young people are voting for change, young people are voting for Unia!". Like SaS, Unia pushed hard to position themselves as the party for young educated voters. Unia were less successful since they came across as a group of arrogant and wealthy business leaders who couldn't connect with the common voter. The 'superhuman' look is again used for the pictures of both candidates.

Unia-Party for Slovakia - Bratislava, 2010

The text reads: "Powerful connections for citizens". Some of the people pictured here are powerful business leaders, but I question how much they care about helping the average citizen...

Unia-Party for Slovakia - Bratislava, 2010

The text reads: "We are replacing worn out politicians". Both party candidates have the usual superhuman look seen in Unia ads, as though they've just descended from heaven riding on a cloud...

Unia-Party for Slovakia - Bratislava, 2010

The text reads: "We are helping young families". The needs of young families, particularly with affordable housing in Bratislava, was a popular campaign theme for several of the parties. As in other Unia billboards of this style, Zuzana Martináková appears to be superhuman, certainly not from this planet...

Unia-Party for Slovakia - Bratislava, 2010

The text reads: "We are replacing worn out politicians". Záhradník is trying a little too hard for a god-like image in this photo, he looks like he has supernatural powers...

Unia-Party for Slovakia - Bratislava, 2010

The text reads: "We are boosting the knowledge economy". Unia encouraged the development of software and technology firms in Slovakia with tax breaks as a means of modernising and diversifying the economy.

Unia-Party for Slovakia - Bratislava, 2010

The text reads: "Mr. Sulík!" (Richard Sulík, leader of the Freedom and Solidarity party), "The internet is not reality" (meaning that many Slovaks are too poor to have the internet, while SaS ads were promising free broadband internet access for everyone), "Do you want to know what it's like to live on the minimum wage?", "Call 0915 063 430.", "Stop using marijuana!". Given that Unia was headed by wealthy business leaders, it seems rather hypocritical that they should present themselves as a party that cares about the interests of the poor. This ad was part of a series of Unia billboards which displayed sarcastic letters written to various Slovak political leaders.

Unia-Party for Slovakia - Bratislava, 2010

The text reads: "Women earn on average 13% less than men", "For the same work - The same salary", and at the bottom, "For equality".

Unia-Party for Slovakia - Bratislava, 2010

The text reads: "Ms. Radičová!" (Iveta Radičová, then the newly-appointed leader of the SDKU, later to become Prime Minister), "For you 'transport' means go to the left?", "For problems with orientation, call 0915 063 400.", "And go away!". I suspect the meaning of this message is that Unia wishes to present Radičová and the SDKU as willing to move to the left politically on economic and social issues in order to attract voters, while Unia will remain firm in its right-wing economic values.

Unia-Party for Slovakia - Bratislava, 2010

The text reads: "Mr. Mikloš! (former Finance Minister and SDKU member Ivan Mikloš), "We know how to manage the economy without privatising strategic businesses. If you would like to know more about this, call 0915 063 440. And go away!". This was part of a series of billboards by Unia which depicted sarcastic letters sent to major Slovak political figures.

Unia-Party for Slovakia - Bratislava, 2010

The text reads: "Mr. Dzurinda! (Former Prime Minister and SDKU member Mikuláš Dzurinda) "A lie has short legs!" (They are accusing Dzurinda of lying about campaign financing in the early years of the SDKU party, and also making a joke about Dzurinda's height, since he is not very tall), "If you are interested in further proverbs, call 0915 063 404.", "And go away!". This was part of a series of billboards by Unia which displayed (usually quite insulting) letters written to various Slovak political leaders.

Unia-Party for Slovakia - Bratislava, 2010

The text reads: "Mr. Fico! I know how to save us a millions of Euros. If you are interested, call 0915 063 400. And go away!", and in the lower right corner, "For change". This was part of a series of often quite strongly worded 'letters' to different Slovak politicians that appeared on Unia billboards during the 2010 campaign.

Unia-Party for Slovakia - Bratislava, 2010

The text reads: "We don't want a payroll bonus - We want lower taxes", "Absolutely no!!! - Anti-social experiment", and at the bottom, "For lower taxes". Unia is led by wealthy business leaders, so they claim that they don't want corporate bonuses (which were definitely not in favour with the public at that time) and that they do want lower taxes. It's not clear what sort of anti-social experiments they don't plan to undertake, but the fact that they think it's necessary to tell the public they are against such experiments makes me start to wonder what it might be...

Unia-Party for Slovakia - Bratislava, 2010

The text reads: "We reject backstage practices in politics", "Why Záhradnik and Cílek left SDKU" and at the bottom, "For honesty in politics". Unia tried to make a breakthrough in the 2010 elections by spending a fortune on campaign advertising, with almost as many billboards as the major parties (in Bratislava at least). The party leaders and backers were seen as a group of well-off businessmen looking after their own interests and their campaign had little impact on the average voter.