Title: The results of the parliamentary elections in Slovakia: a turning point for the country?
Introduction :
The results of Slovakia’s parliamentary elections have been revealed, announcing the victory of former Prime Minister Robert Fico’s populist Smer-SD party. This victory paves the way for important changes for the country, in terms of domestic politics and diplomatic relations. In this article, we will analyze the consequences of this election on Slovakia’s pro-Western path, as well as its relations with Ukraine and Russia.
The populist Smer-SD party wins:
According to the almost complete results of the parliamentary elections in Slovakia, Robert Fico’s Smer-SD party obtained 23.3% of the votes, thus ahead of the centrist Progressive Slovakia party. This victory gives Smer-SD 42 seats out of the 150 in Parliament, but it will have to form a coalition to obtain the majority. Despite the controversies surrounding the party, notably its anti-EU and anti-LGBTQ stances, it enjoys broad support from the electorate.
A possible questioning of the pro-Western path:
The election of Smer-SD raises questions about the direction Slovakia will take in terms of foreign policy. Robert Fico had promised to cut off aid to neighboring Ukraine, calling into question the country’s commitment to the EU and NATO. We must now wait to see whether this promise will be put into practice and what the consequences will be for Slovakia’s relations with the European Union.
The issues with Ukraine and Russia:
The Smer-SD victory could also affect relations between Slovakia, Ukraine and Russia. While other Slovak parties supported military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion, Smer-SD opposed it. It is therefore plausible that Slovakia adopts a more neutral position towards the conflict in Ukraine and maintains closer relations with Russia.
Formation of a government coalition:
To obtain a majority in Parliament, Smer-SD will have to form a coalition with other political parties. The choice of coalition partners is crucial in determining the political direction and measures put in place by the Slovak government. Different parties, such as Hlas-SD, led by Peter Pellegrini, and Olano, the Christian Democratic Movement, could come into play. The formation of this coalition will therefore be a major issue in the coming days.
Conclusion :
The results of the parliamentary elections in Slovakia clearly show the victory of the Smer-SD party of former Prime Minister Robert Fico. These results pave the way for possible significant changes in the country’s domestic politics and diplomatic relations. It remains to be seen how Slovakia will react to the EU, Ukraine and Russia, as well as what political alliances it will form to govern. Slovakia’s future seems unpredictable, but one thing is certain: the next few months will be crucial for the country.