2023-10-03 12:56:45
In Slovakia, the Smer-SD party came first in the legislative elections which took place on Saturday September 30, 2023. Its founder and current leader, Robert Fico, had several times committed to putting an end to his country’s military support for the ‘Ukraine. Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová, often described as “American agent” by the Smer-SD, entrusted the former Prime Minister with the formation of the next government. The scenario, described as “disaster” by the European Union, is coming true.
Prime minister three times, Robert Fico resigned in 2018 after protests organized following the assassination of an investigative journalist who was investigating links between the Slovak government and the Calabrian mafia. His party, founded in 1999, was already leading the polls several months before the legislative vote was held. His opponents and detractors attribute his rise in popularity to slogans deemed “pro-Russian” et “anti-Ukrainians” as well as his positions on social issues.
Since the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, Smer-SD has opposed the delivery of weapons and military equipment to kyiv. Its leader also criticized sanctions imposed on Russia since the annexation of Crimea, saying the measures “harmed mainly the populations and not the regime”.
“Bigger problems” than Ukraine
The prospect of a victory for Robert Fico during these early legislative elections raised concerns among the Slovak president but also within the European Union. Zuzana Čaputová said she feared that her Central European country, a valuable support for Ukraine, would become an ersatz of Hungary and the foreign policy of its Prime Minister, Viktor Orbàn. In the eyes of several senior EU officials, a victory for Smer-SD, like that of the FPÖ, the Austrian far-right party, would be a “disaster”.
On Saturday, the political party led by the former Slovak Prime Minister ended up winning the legislative elections. The Smer-SD obtained 23.3% of the votes at the end of the ballot. The centrist Progressive Slovakia (PS) party won 17.03% of the votes in this country of 5.4 million inhabitants.
When the partial results were announced, Zuzana Čaputová said that the formation of the next government was entrusted to the leader of the winning party. “I understand that the election results are associated with various concerns for many people”she declared, noting that the “task of the head of state is to respect the result of the democratic elections”.
In a video broadcast after his vote, Robert Fico explained that he wanted a Slovakia without “amateurs and inexperienced blunderers who lead us into adventures such as immigration and war”. Reacting to the results announced this Sunday, the former Prime Minister estimated that his country had “bigger problems” that aid to kyiv. “We believe that Ukraine is a huge tragedy for everyone. If Smer is tasked with forming a cabinet…we will do our best to hold peace talks as soon as possible”he said.
A position already expressed in June by the party, which said “fully support Slovakia’s membership in the EU and NATO”.
Orbàn hails Fico’s victory, French MEPs worried
In the absence of an absolute majority, Smer must deal with other parties to form a majority coalition within the 150-seat parliament. Among the first three winners, there is the Hlas-SD party (15.43%), created in 2020 following a split within Smer. Hlas is led by Peter Pellegrini, himself former vice-president of the political party founded by Fico and the latter’s successor as Prime Minister in 2018.
Robert Fico’s victory was hailed in Hungary. Prime Minister Viktor Orban paid tribute to a “patriot”. “Guess who’s back! Congratulations to Robert Fico on his indisputable victory in the Slovak parliamentary elections. It’s always good to work with a patriot”he said.
Guess who’s back! Congratulations to Robert Fico on his undisputable victory at the Slovak parliamentary elections. Always good to work together with a patriot. Looking forward to it! ???????????????? pic.twitter.com/JHIlYWKX6c
— Viktor Orbán (@PM_ViktorOrban) October 1, 2023
Within the European Union, it is mainly French MEPs who are stepping up to the plate. Nathalie Loiseau, campaign leader of the French Renaissance delegation in the 2019 European elections, called on EU members to “wake up”. “There is a risk for this country, there is a risk for other countries too”to “fall into pro-Russian narratives”has she declared on France Info. “Those who say that racist, populist and pro-Russian parties cannot reach higher offices had better look towards Bratislava”she added.
Valérie Hayer, also a Renaissance MEP, evoked and “dark day for Ukraine and Western unity”. Pierre Moscovici, former European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, estimated that Fico’s victory is “worrying” and that a “reflection on the future of Europe and democracy is necessary”.
For their part, the French socialists and democrats, who have been demanding for years the exclusion of the Smer-SD from their group in the European Parliament, have shared of their intention to ask for it again “again at the group meeting this Tuesday”. “The heads of the national delegations of the S&D group will be contacted on this subject. And the French PS will send an official request once again to the PSE”said Nora Mebarek, head of the French delegation.
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