Nearly complete results of Slovakia’s parliamentary election have shown that Robert Fico, a leftist former Prime Minister, has emerged as the winner. Fico, who campaigned on ending military aid to Ukraine, secured 23.37% of the vote with his SMER-SSD party. The liberal Progressive Slovakia (PS) party came in second with 16.86% of the vote, followed by the HLAS (Voice) party with 15.03%. However, Fico will need to secure alliances in order to form the next government.
If Fico and his SMER-SSD party succeed in forming the government, Slovakia, a NATO member, may join Hungary in challenging the European Union’s consensus on support for Ukraine. This move would come at a time when the EU is seeking to maintain unity in opposing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It could also signal a shift against political liberalism in the region, which may be further reinforced if Poland’s conservative PiS party wins the upcoming election.
Fico’s SMER-SSD party is known for its nationalist and socially conservative stance, criticizing what it perceives as social liberalism imposed from Brussels. On the other hand, the PS is liberal on issues such as green policies, LGBT rights, deeper European integration, and human rights.
Although exit polls had favored the PS party, the final results went in Fico’s favor, raising the possibility of him becoming prime minister for the fourth time. The HLAS party, which split from SMER-SSD in 2020, could potentially align with Fico and play a crucial role in forming the government. Pellegrini, the leader of HLAS, emphasized the importance of his party in any normally functioning government coalition. PS, on the other hand, would likely need to form a coalition with right-wing or socially conservative parties, which would temper its socially progressive and EU-integration drive.
The incoming government, regardless of its composition, will inherit a ballooning budget deficit projected to be the highest in the eurozone. This poses a significant challenge and underscores the need for effective economic management.
During the campaign, Fico capitalized on anti-migrant sentiments by highlighting concerns about the influx of migrants passing through Slovakia to Western Europe. His views also align with the traditionally warm sentiments towards Russia among many Slovaks, which have gained traction on social media since the start of the Ukraine war.
Fico was forced to resign in 2018 following mass protests against corruption that were sparked by the murder of an investigative journalist. Pellegrini, a member of SMER-SSD at the time, took over as Prime Minister until 2020 when his government was defeated in an election by center-right parties promising to combat corruption. However, the center-right coalition collapsed, leading to the early election and creating an opportunity for Fico’s return to power.
The results of Slovakia’s parliamentary election have put Robert Fico and his SMER-SSD party in a leading position. However, forming a government will require building alliances with other parties, which may prove to be a challenging task. The potential outcome of the election could have significant implications for Slovakia’s foreign policy, economic stability, and the balance between social liberalism and conservatism within the country. As Slovakia navigates these challenges, the role of political leaders and their ability to forge effective coalitions will be crucial in shaping the country’s future direction.
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