In Slovakia’s parliamentary elections, Robert Fico’s Smer-SD (“Section-Slovak Social Democracy”) party clinched victory, securing 23.42% of the vote as 98.13% of the ballots were counted. This placed them ahead of the center-liberal Progressive Slovakia (PS) party, which garnered 16.75%, defying initial predictions. The outcome of the election, crucial for Slovakia’s stance between the West and Russia, was closely watched in the European Union and NATO member state with a population of 5.4 million.
Fico’s party vowed to cease military aid to neighboring Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, setting the stage for a significant policy shift. The Progressive Slovakia party, led by European Parliament vice-president Michal Šimeča, still had potential to increase its support, particularly in larger cities where counting was ongoing. Official final results were yet to be announced, anticipated later in the morning.
The election campaign was marred by extensive online misinformation and intense confrontations between candidates. Fico successfully navigated challenges not only from EU and NATO opposition but also from OATKI+. Voting in a village northeast of the capital, Fico, accompanied by his mother, emphasized the need for experienced leadership, contrasting it with what he called “amateurs and inexperienced buffoons.”
Post-election, the winning party would need to form a coalition government with smaller parties to secure a majority in the 150-seat parliament. President Zuzana Tsaputova confirmed her intention to entrust the election victor with the task of forming the new government. With seven factions expected to enter parliament, including HLAS-SD (15.03%) led by Peter Pellegrini, the former vice-president of Smer-SD, and others such as Oleno (9.05%, center), Christian Democratic Movement (KDH, 6.92%), Freedom and Solidarity (SaS, liberal, 6.13%), Slovak National Party (SNS, 5.68%), and the Democracy party (extreme right, 4.81%), the possibilities for forming a government coalition were diverse.
Slovakia, which gained independence in 1993 following a peaceful separation from the Czech Republic, continued to shape its political landscape amid these elections, marking a pivotal moment for the nation’s future direction.
