Henrik R
In less than a month, Vladimir Putin and Russia could gain a powerful new ally within the European Union.
This could happen if Robert Fico wins the upcoming election in Slovakia.
Robert Fico’s potential victory would signify a shift towards the East and pose a threat to Slovakia’s independence, his opponent Michal Simecka warns. According to the latest polls from August, Fico’s SMER-SSD party is leading with 20% of the votes, while Simecka’s Progressive Slovakia is trailing with 15%.
Columnist John Kampfner at The Guardian argues that the election in Slovakia “has far greater implications than Europe is aware of.” Fico is compared to Hungary’s pro-Russia Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and is labeled a populist, “an echo of Donald Trump.”
Michal Simecka echoes this sentiment, stating,
“While Viktor Orbán has long been Putin’s only Trojan horse in Europe, there’s a real risk that Robert Fico could become his partner if he wins.”
Slovakia has unconditionally supported its Ukrainian neighbor, even militarily, since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Simecka promises to continue this support if he wins.
On the other hand, Fico has declared that this support will cease if he wins, distancing himself from “Ukrainian fascists.”