Bratislava – For nearly thirty years, Robert Fico has been considered one of Slovakia‘s hottest, but in addition most polarizing, politicians. Whereas the rich, educated center class within the liberal capital Bratislava and different bigger cities despise him, most residents of the economically deprived peripheral areas revere him. That is usually mirrored within the outcomes of parliamentary elections, during which the nation splits into two utterly completely different elements.
Fico’s political rise started within the Nineties as an inner-party insurgent within the “Celebration of the Democratic Left” (SDL), based by former reform communists. When the Left Celebration entered a coalition with conservative and liberal events led by Christian Democrat Mikulas Dzurinda in 1998, Fico based his personal occasion, Smer (Path).
By denouncing the rampant corruption of the Dzurinda authorities, he turned the most well-liked politician for years and took over the management of a authorities for the primary time in 2006. Since then, his opponents have solely been in a position to quickly oust him from energy in two brief phases from 2010 to 2012 and 2018 to 2023. Nonetheless, his lengthy reign meant that the previous anti-corruption fighter was more and more surrounded by freeloaders and shady entrepreneurs who wished to become involved in energy. Fico himself turned a symbolic determine for corruption.
Journalist homicide shakes nation – Fico resigns
In 2018, the double homicide of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kusnirova shook his energy base. In the midst of the homicide investigation, the opposition media more and more revealed suspicions of corruption that reached into the very best authorities workplaces. Below strain from mass demonstrations, Fico was pressured to resign. Since then, he has complained that the opposition and media shops near them organized a sort of coup by creating the impression that his authorities was immediately concerned within the homicide of journalists.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which violated worldwide legislation and which Fico had all the time condemned, his opponents have dubbed him a “pro-Russian” politician based mostly on the mannequin of Hungary’s Viktor Orban. In reality, Fico repeatedly makes crucial statements towards the “corrupt” Ukrainian management, however on the EU degree he helps all sanctions towards Russia with out objection.