“Democratic Slovakia has lost”: these are the words in which the independent Slovak press welcomes Robert Fico’s victory in the legislative elections on Saturday. His return is indeed bad news for the European camp.
To give you an idea of the character, Robert Fico, 59 years old, is a bodybuilding enthusiast, big cars and a fan of Vladimir Putin. His specialty: fake news and untruths that he delivers in abundance via social networks against his adversaries, against the LGBT community or against migrants. Already twice Prime Minister, in 2018 he was ousted from power after the assassination of Jan Kuciak, an investigative journalist who worked on the government’s links with the mafia.
Which does not prevent him from passing off as “political persecution” the multiple convictions of his relatives for corruption. It is therefore to him that the Slovaks, fed with disinformation and tired of the incompetence of the current government, gave their votes. With just over 23% of the votes gathered by his party, Smer – SD, during the legislative elections on Saturday September 30, Robert Fico will have to form a coalition to keep power. It excludes no one, not even the far right.
“No more ammunition” for Ukraine
His victory is initially bad news for Ukraine : Robert Fico promises that his country will no longer send a single ammunition. Slovakia and its inhabitants have “bigger problems”. However, so far Bratislava has shown limitless generosity, even delivering 13 Mig-29 fighters to kyiv.
Opposed to sanctions against Russia, Robert Fico is openly supported by Kremlin propaganda organs, such as Izvestia. The newspaper congratulates itself. With him “the artificial obsession with LGBT rights will finally be swept away, the European Union will be able to relinquish its desire to accommodate migrants with a foreign culture on Slovak territory and the prospect of Ukraine joining NATO will be postponed indefinitely”. All is said.
Repercussions in Europe
His return is therefore also bad news for the unity of the European Union. VSAlthough Slovakia and its five and a half million inhabitants weigh much less than Poland for example, but Europe must not underestimate the repercussions of a populist pro-Russian government, a worrying signal eight months before the European elections. .
Robert Fico is especially very close to the Hungarian Viktor Orbán, who was the first to salute his victory: “I look forward to working with a patriot“. Viktor Orbán, who systematically obstructs decisions related to Ukraine, will find an ally at the Council table. Brussels must prepare to face new blockages. And this is exactly what the Kremlin seeks: to disunite and weaken the Western camp.