1 in 1 voters in Slovakia go to the polls Photo: Portal/Radovan Stoklasa Voters in Slovakia go to the polls Photo: Portal/Radovan Stoklasa
After campaigning for an end to military aid to Ukraine, former Prime Minister Roberto Fico defeated his progressive rival and won the election that took place this Saturday (30) in Slovakia.
With almost 100% of the constituencies counted, Fico’s Social Democratic Direction (SmerSSD) party is leading with 23.34% of the vote. The Liberal Progressive Slovakia (PS) remains in the lead with 16.86% and the party (Hlas) remains in third place with 15.03%.
A Ficoled government would see Slovakia, a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), join Hungary and challenge the European Union’s consensus on support for Ukraine, just as the bloc seeks to maintain unity to combat Russia’s invasion.
It would also signal a new shift in the region against political liberalism, which could be reinforced if the conservative PiS (Law and Justice) party wins elections in Poland later this month.
If Fico fulfills his election promises, it will mean a radical change for Slovakia. The country has so far been a strong ally of its eastern neighbor Ukraine in the war against Russia.
Fico’s party is more nationalistic and socially conservative and criticizes the social liberalism that it believes is being imposed from Brussels. Meanwhile, the PS is liberal when it comes to green politics, LGBT rights, deeper European integration and human rights.
“We want to evaluate everything, so we wait for the final count,” said Robert Kalinak, SMERSSD candidate and longtime Fico ally, adding that the party would comment on the full results later on Sunday.
Exit polls favored the PS, but the results went in favor of Fico, raising the prospect that he could win a fourth term as prime minister after leading governments in 20062010 and 20122018.