Contrary to initial forecasts, the left-wing nationalist Social Democrats led by former pro-Russian Prime Minister Robert Fico have won the parliamentary elections in Slovakia.
After nearly 99% of constituencies were counted, the opposition Smer party received 23.3% of the vote, according to preliminary results released this morning by the Bratislava Election Commission. The populist Slovak party, which opposes aid to Ukraine, overtook the pro-European centrist PS, which was supported by 17.03% of voters. The final results are expected on Sunday morning.
The vote in the country of 5.4 million inhabitants, a member of the EU and NATO, is seen as decisive for whether Slovakia stays on its pro-Western path or turns more towards Russia. Slovak President Zuzana Caputova said this morning that she would entrust the formation of the next government to the leader of the winning party, regardless of her “personal preferences” as a former member of the PS. Smer said he would not comment on the vote until tonight. Fico’s party had promised during the election campaign to suspend aid to neighboring Ukraine.
The former prime minister attacked the EU and NATO and rejected any further military aid to Kiev.
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