PRO-RUSSIAN FORMER PRIME MINISTER AND PRO-WESTERN LIBERALS COMPETE FOR VOTES IN SLOVAKIA

Sat 30 September 2023:

Slovaks are casting ballots in a closely contested parliamentary election between pro-Western liberals and left-wing former prime minister Robert Fico, who has vowed to stop military assistance to the neighboring Ukraine.

Final polls showed the two parties tied, with the winner anticipated to get the first chance to form a government to replace the caretaker administration that has ruled the country since May.

A government led by Fico would mean Slovakia, a country of 5.5 million, joining Hungary as European Union countries challenging the bloc’s consensus support for Ukraine, just as the EU looks to shore up solidarity in opposing Russia’s invasion.

It would also add to a bloc of eastern former communist states with governments publicly hostile to liberalism.

A Progresivne Slovensko (Progressive Slovakia, PS) government would stay the course on foreign policy, keeping Slovakia’s strong backing for Ukraine and putting the country in a pro-integration and liberal camp in the EU on issues such as majority voting to make the bloc more flexible, green policies and LGBTQ rights.

Neither Fico’s SMER-SSD (Direction-Slovak Social Democracy) nor the PS, led by European Parliament Vice President Michal Simecka, are expected to win a majority, meaning the future government is likely to depend on results for half a dozen smaller parties, from libertarians to far-right extremists.

The moderate-left Hlas (Voice) of Peter Pellegrini, an ex-SMER-SSD member and prime minister from 2018-20, is seen coming third and may have the final say. He has kept his options open but said this week his party was closer to Fico.

Robert Fico, left, leader of the SMER-SSD party, and Michal Simecka, leader of the Progressive Slovakia party.

Rising pro-Russia sentiment

Fico has ridden on dissatisfaction with a bickering centre-right coalition whose government collapsed last year, triggering this election a half-year early.

Fico’s pro-Russian views follow moods in Slovak society, traditionally relatively warm on Russia. Pro-Russian narratives and disinformation on social networks have amplified the sentiment.

Fico has pledged to end military supplies to Ukraine and to strive for peace talks. This rhetoric echoes that of Hungary’s leader, Viktor Orban, but is rejected by Ukraine and its allies, who say this would only encourage Russia.

He has also criticised sanctions on Russia and defended national veto powers in the EU. But Fico was also a pragmatic leader in the past, which foreign diplomats and analysts say could tame his foreign policy turn.

Observers also believe Slovakia, which has the eurozone’s largest budget deficit of about 7% of GDP this year, need EU modernization and recovery money. Any country would consequently think twice before clashing with Brussels over topics like the rule of law.

On Saturday, polling stations open at 7 a.m. (05:00 GMT) and close at 10 p.m. (20:00 GMT). After the polls close, exit polls will be released, and results will be available within hours.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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