Košice Government Program
The Košice Government Program (Košický vládny program, KVP), Program of the Czechoslovak Government of the National Front of Czechs and Slovaks, in full — a program document of the Czechoslovak government led by Zdeněk Fierlinger (appointed on 4 April 1945 by President Edvard Beneš as the institutional successor to the government-in-exile in London) passed in Košice on 5 April 1945 during the gradual liberation of Czechoslovakia by the Red Army. It came about as a result of negotiation between representatives of Czechoslovak political parties in exile and members of the Slovak National Council (Slovenská národná rada, SNR) from 22 – 29 March 1945 in Moscow (→ Moscow negotiations). The Program, made up of 16 chapters, laid out fundamental changes in the internal structure of Czechoslovakia as well as a new ideological and geopolitical direction for the country shaped by the strong influence of the Soviet Union.
Political and Ethnical Reforms
During the Moscow negotiations, the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (Komunistická strana Československa, KSČ) led by Klement Gottwald gained a decisive influence. The government of the National Front of Czechs and Slovaks (Národný front Čechov a Slovákov) may have included other parties (Czechoslovak National Socialist Party (Československá strana národně socialistická), Czechoslovak Social Democratic Workers' Party (Československá sociálně demokratická strana dělnická) and the Czechoslovak People’s Party (Československá strana lidová), but the KSČ already held a dominant position. The composition of the National Front from these selected parties created a framework for political change that effectively excluded any opposition.
The Košice Government Program declared the renewal of the Czechoslovak Republic as a common state of Czechs and Slovaks, though Slovakia would have its own administrative structure. The Slovak National Council and Board of Commissioners (Zbor povereníkov) would hold executive power in Slovakia in coordination with the central government in Prague.
The Program defined specific policies towards German and Hungarian minorities, both of which were seen as unreliable following their collaboration during the war. Measures passed included taking away their state citizenship, confiscation of property and in the case of the German minority, systematic expulsion; Hungarians faced denaturalisation and partial population transfers. Special dispensations were granted, however, to those who could prove they had been involved in the resistance or helped in the rebirth of Czechoslovakia.
Economic and Social Changes
The Košice Government Program made provision for major economic changes. Key areas such as industry, banking, insurance and transport were all to be nationalized and the state would play the main role in managing the economy, thus changing the whole nature of private ownership. The aim was to remove the influence of so-called capitalist monopolies and create the basis for a planned economy which would ensure more equal distribution of wealth. The Program also prepared the way for extensive land reform aimed at breaking up large estates and dividing them amongst smaller farmholders.
Another key part of the document was its social agenda, which placed emphasis on improving the working conditions of employees, supporting trade unions and developing the public health system. It also aimed to tackle the housing situation, much worsened by the depredations of war.
International Politics
In terms of international relations, the Košice Government Program clearly defined the country’s new orientation. The Soviet Union was presented as the main strategic partner and ally, not only from a military but also political, economic and cultural perspective, a result both of the military presence of the Red Army in the territory of Czechoslovakia and the ideological closeness between Soviet leadership and KSČ members. Relations with Great Britain, France and the United States would officially remain friendly, albeit without any close cooperation. This geopolitical turnaround created conditions for Czechoslovakia to become part of the Soviet sphere of influence, leading to foundation of a centralized and authoritarian state with only limited political sovereignty.