In Slovakia’s parliamentary election, Robert Fico emerged as the winner, appealing to anti-western and pro-Russian sentiments. This victory marks his potential fourth term leading the country, as he has demonstrated a skillful ability to adapt his political stance in response to changing public opinion and political realities. Despite these shifts, Fico has consistently promised to protect the living standards of those who have been left behind in Slovakia, a country where living standards are gradually catching up to those in western Europe. Michal Vasecka, a sociologist at the Bratislava Policy Institute, describes Fico as a powerful and unique figure in Slovakian politics who closely follows opinion polls and understands the dynamics of society.
Over the past four years, however, Fico has adopted more extreme positions, including attacks on Western allies, opposition to military support for Kyiv, criticism of Russian sanctions, and threats to veto any potential NATO invitation for Ukraine. His campaign slogan, “Not a single round,” resonated with voters who believe that Russia is not to blame for the war in Ukraine. Fico has expressed admiration for Hungary’s Viktor Orban, praising his open defense of the interests of the Hungarian people and claiming to take a similar approach to defending Slovak interests.
Furthermore, Fico has targeted Slovakia’s liberal president, Zuzana Caputova, spreading lies about her and accusing various opponents and NGOs of following the instructions of George Soros, an American financier. Born into a working-class family, Fico obtained a law degree in 1986 and joined the Communist party. Following the fall of Communist rule in 1989, he worked as a government lawyer, became a member of parliament for the renamed Communist party, and represented Slovakia at the European Court for Human Rights. Fico has been leading the SMER-Social Democracy party since 1999, which he established to oppose the reformist center-right cabinet.
Fico’s political career has been marked by shifting alliances and policy changes. He won his first election in 2006 by capitalizing on dissatisfaction with liberal economic reforms. Despite forming a government with nationalists, he kept Slovakia on track to adopt the euro in 2009. His second term began after a center-right coalition dissolution, and his tough stance against migrants helped him secure re-election in 2016. Following this victory, he expressed his desire for Slovakia to be part of the EU’s core alongside France and Germany.
In 2018, Fico faced a decline in political fortunes due to the murder of journalist Jan Kuciak, who was investigating high-level corruption. Mass protests against corruption ensued, ultimately forcing Fico to resign. In the 2020 election, SMER lost power to parties vowing to combat corruption, leading to a split within Fico’s party. Despite polling below 10%, Fico gained visibility by criticizing government health measures in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Fico successfully tapped into public dissatisfaction with infighting within the ruling government and raised doubts about its pro-Western trajectory, aligning with pro-Russian narratives on social networks that had gained traction in Slovakia. Additionally, he has been able to deflect accusations of corruption that have plagued his party throughout his political career. In 2022, Fico faced charges of criminal conspiracy for allegedly using police and tax information against political opponents, charges which he denied and were eventually dropped.
Overall, Fico’s adaptability and ability to tap into various sentiments have propelled him to multiple election victories in Slovakia. Despite his more recent adoption of extreme positions, foreign diplomats believe that he may find a pragmatic approach with European and NATO partners, especially considering that the far-right party, which Fico may potentially ally with, did not win any seats in the most recent election.
Source: Reuters
Credit: The Star : News Feed
