The Anti-American/Western and Pro-Russian “Direction–Social Democracy” Party in Slovakia who is lead by former-Prime Minister, Robert Fico has won the Parliamentary elections.
Fico made it clear throughout his election campaign that his first action in office will be to stop military aid to Ukraine and is critical of the EU and NATO.
The Smer-SD party scored 23.3%, beating the centrist Progressive Slovakia on 17%, with almost all votes counted. Previously, two exit polls had indicated that Progressive Slovakia would be the winner.
If Fico is successful in creating a majority coalition, he will lead the European nation for the fourth time.
The HLAS (Voice) party, which could become the kingmaker for forming the next government, was third with just over 15% of the vote.
SMER-SSD, which is set to clinch 42 seats in the 150-member parliament, will need coalition partners to form Slovakia’s next government. The HLAS, with an estimated 27 seats, could be a key partner.
“The distribution of seats confirms HLAS as a party without which any normally functioning government coalition cannot be put together,” party leader Peter Pellegrini said as most results were known, indicating that his currently party had no preference for “any combination or coalition.”
Before the vote, Pellegrini also kept all options open but hinted his party was closer to Fico.
However, PS party leader Michal Simecka has also not given up hope of forming the next government.
