On Saturday, there are parliamentary elections in the EU and NATO country Slovakia.
According to the polls, it will be a close election, but former Prime Minister Robert Fico is in the driver’s seat. One of his promises is to stop supplying arms to Ukraine.
The former prime minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, has been surrounded by scandal. The murder of a journalist – who dug into corruption among high-ranking politicians – led to his forced resignation.
Now he is once again expected to become Slovakia’s prime minister – with the election promise to stop supporting Ukraine militarily.
Since Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, NATO country Slovakia has sent several aid packages.
– It’s not good. I think sending weapons leads to hell. People die because of those weapons. It does not matter which side of the conflict. And it is above all civilians, says Slovakian Jan Hergott to TV4 Nyheterna.
Decided on Saturday
The election is held on Saturday. According to opinion polls, Robert Fico has a narrow advantage over pro-EU and pro-Ukraine Michail Simecka, who leads the Progressive Slovakia party. The country is thus weighing between continued support for Ukraine, or becoming a more Russia-friendly NATO country.
Just over 50 percent of the Slovak population believes that the West and Ukraine are responsible for Russia’s war of invasion, according to a survey conducted by the think tank Globsec.
– Slovak nationalism was born in the 19th century out of an admiration for Russia as the great ally of the Slovaks. And this romantic idea of Russia has continued, Milan Nic, political scientist, think tank Dgap to TV4 Nyheterna.
Leaning far to the right
Regardless of who gets the most votes, he must govern with parties far to the right.
And it is not only Ukraine and Russia that have been major election issues during the fierce campaign in Slovakia.
Several parties have attacked LGBTQ rights, migrants, and the EU Commission.
Facts: About Robert Fico
Robert Fico has been Prime Minister of Slovakia for two terms: 2006–2010 and 2012–2018. When he was elected the first time, his party Smer called itself social democratic. But in recent years, during his time as prime minister and especially after he was forced out of office, Fico has moved further and further to the right.
Source: TT.