[1/4]Slovakia’s former Prime Minister and chief of SMER-SSD occasion Robert Fico attends the occasion’s election marketing campaign rally, forward of Slovakia’s early parliamentary election in Banovce nad Bebravou, Slovakia, September 14, 2023. REUTERS/Radovan Stoklasa Purchase Licensing Rights
BRATISLAVA, Oct 1 (Reuters) – Slovakia’s Robert Fico, who gained an election after pledging to finish navy help to Ukraine, was in pole place to begin talks on forming a authorities on Sunday whereas a liberal rival vowed to hunt companions to forestall the previous leftist prime minister’s return to energy.
With 99.98% of voting districts reporting within the Saturday election, Fico’s SMER-SSD occasion scored almost 23% of the vote, adopted by nearly 18% for the Progresivne Slovensko (Progressive Slovakia, PS) occasion.
The winner is predicted to be given a political mandate by President Zuzana Caputova to attempt to discover a majority, and type a authorities if profitable.
A authorities led by Fico and his SMER-SSD occasion would see NATO member Slovakia becoming a member of Hungary in difficult the European Union’s consensus on assist for Ukraine, simply because the bloc seems to be to take care of unity in opposing Russia’s invasion.
The consequence – with SMER-SSD in want of coalition companions to rule – units up the third-placed reasonable leftist HLAS (Voice) as kingmaker.
HLAS chief Peter Pellegrini, who has beforehand mentioned his occasion leans nearer to SMER-SSD on coverage, mentioned on Sunday that the prospect for a secure coalition and agenda priorities would information negotiations, which might final days or even weeks.
Seven factions crossed the edge to sit down within the subsequent parliament. Because the occasion with essentially the most votes, SMER-SSD is predicted to be given the primary probability to type a authorities, and it’s more likely to flip to the nationalist, pro-Russian Slovak Nationwide Social gathering and HLAS to achieve a majority.
The occasion will maintain a information convention at 1:00 p.m. (1100 GMT) to debate the election outcomes.
HLAS had not made Ukraine a marketing campaign challenge, with Pellegrini saying throughout campaigning that ammunition provides had been good for Slovakia’s defence business. Its occasion programme has additionally backed having a united EU in opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
A Fico-led authorities would sign an additional shift in central Europe in opposition to political liberalism, which can be strengthened if the ruling conservative Regulation and Justice (PiS) wins an election in Poland later this month.
Fico has leaned near Hungary’s chief, Viktor Orban, who congratulated the Slovak politician on his victory with a publish on X social media platform on Sunday saying “Guess who’s again!”
“At all times good to work along with a patriot. Wanting ahead to it,” Orban mentioned.
Fico’s occasion is important of social liberalism, which it says is imposed from Brussels.
PS, which is liberal on inexperienced insurance policies, LGBT rights, deeper European integration and human rights, may also court docket HLAS, with PS chief Michal Simecka on Sunday saying he nonetheless noticed an choice to type a ruling coalition.
“We consider that that is very unhealthy information for Slovakia,” Simecka informed a information convention of SMER-SSD’s victory.
“And it could be even worse information if Robert Fico succeeds in forming a authorities,” he added. “We’ll do every little thing…in order that Robert Fico doesn’t rule in Slovakia.”
** Click on right here for an interactive graphic on election outcomes:
Reporting by Jan Lopatka and Jason Hovet; Writing by Jason Hovet; Modifying by Kirsten Donovan
Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Belief Rules.
