Slovakia gives pro-Russian populist nationalism another win
The country could join the EU’s awkward squad if Robert Fico forms a government
“GUESS WHO’S back!” wrote Viktor Orban, Hungary’s prime minister, in a happy tweet. Robert Fico, twice prime minister of Slovakia, fell from power in 2018 after the murder of a journalist investigating high-level corruption, which led to mass protests. Now he looks set to lead his country once again. Mr Fico’s Smer party took 23% of the votes, coming first in an election on September 30th. So he may lead a coalition government including a party that once split from his own, plus an extreme right-wing party whose leader has long been one of Russia’s staunchest fans.
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This article appeared in the Europe section of the print edition under the headline “Guess who’s back!”
Europe October 7th 2023
- After a brutal campaign, Poland gets ready to vote
- Slovakia gives pro-Russian populist nationalism another win
- Ukraine prepares for winter again as Russia targets its power grid
- Spain’s Socialists are struggling to recover power
- What should Ireland’s government do with a huge budget surplus?
- Europe is stuck in a need-hate relationship with migrants
From the October 7th 2023 edition
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