With greater than anticipated votes, leftist celebration chief and former Prime Minister Robert Fico received the parliamentary elections in Slovakia on Sunday. Fico staged a political comeback after campaigning on a pro-Russian traces and promising to finish assist for Ukraine in its ongoing warfare.
In line with the Slovak Statistics Workplace, Fico and his celebration SMER had 22.9 per cent of the votes after counting 99.98 per cent votes from round 6,000 polling cubicles.
Whereas, pro-West newcomer and liberal, the Progressive Slovakia celebration got here second with with 18 per cent of the votes.
Although Fico had received the elections, he wants coalition with different events to type the federal government.
The left-wing Hlas (Voice) celebration, led by Peter Pellegrini secured the third place with 14.7 per cent votes. Pellegrini, Fico’s former deputy in SMER parted methods after the celebration misplaced 2020 election on fees of corruption and scams.
Pellegrini grew to become the PM after Fico was pressured to resign on accusations of involvement in 2018 killing of journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancee. A doable reunion could be in favour of Fico to achieve majority.
A take a look at for Ukraine
Even in the course of the campaigns, Fico was very clear on his stand in opposition to assist for Ukraine. Ukraine’s prospects of becoming a member of the NATO additionally shall be in query together with his victory. Fico opposes EU sanctions on Russia as nicely.
Fico, 59, has vowed to withdraw Slovakia’s army assist for Ukraine in Russia’s warfare if his try and return to energy succeeds.
In the course of the invasion, Slovakia was the primary nation to ship air defences to Ukraine. Fico has referred to as on the Slovakian authorities to cease supplying weapons to Kyiv and he had clearly acknowledged if he’s elected to energy, the nation would “not ship one other spherical of ammunition.”
As a substitute of sending arms to Kyiv, the EU and the US ought to use their affect to power Russia and Ukraine to strike a compromise peace deal, Fico had mentioned.
From Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets, to S-300 air protection system, helicopters, and armoured automobiles, Slovakia had prolonged its assist to Ukraine. It additionally took in lots of refugees from the war-torn nation.
It turns into a extremely testing time for Ukraine as it’s changing into tough for a lot of nations to maintain on sending arms. In nations together with Spain, France and Germany, populist events skeptical of intervention in Ukraine additionally command important assist.
Fico has served as PM in 2006-2010 and once more in 2012-2018.
After coming second, Progressive Slovakia celebration’s Michal Simecka mentioned that “it’s a foul information for Slovakia”. Simecka can also be the deputy president of the European Parliament.
“The very fact of the matter is that SMER is the winner. And we in fact respect that though we predict it’s dangerous information for the nation. And it is going to be even worse information if Mr Fico kinds the federal government,” mentioned Simecka throughout a press convention.
