Populist Slovakia poll winner vows to stop arming Kyiv

Robert Fico and his Smer party took 23 per cent of the vote, capitalising on a groundswell of scepticism towards Ukraine

Robert Fico claims victory in Bratislava on Sunday. Picture: AFP

A pro-Russian populist who has pledged not to send “another bullet” of military support to Ukraine will be asked to form a government after winning the election in Slovakia.

Robert Fico and his Smer party took 23 per cent of the vote, capitalising on a groundswell of public scepticism towards Kyiv in a country strongly affected by the war in its eastern neighbour.

“Slovakia and the people in Slovakia have bigger problems than Ukraine,” Mr Fico said after his victory.

The country is an important hub for arms supplies to the Ukrainians, as well as hosting repair shops and a factory for 155mm artillery shells.

Its population of 5.7 million has absorbed 100,000 Ukrainian refugees, more per head than any country except Poland, the Czech Republic and the Baltic States.

President Zuzana Caputova, a political rival, said she would task Mr Fico with forming a government.

Mr Fico was previously prime minister from 2006 to 2010 and from 2012 to 2018.

His latest victory was applauded by Hungarian leader Viktor Orban, who also has clashed with Ukraine since the Russian invasion began in February last year. “Guess who’s back! Congratulations to Robert Fico … Always good to work together with a patriot,” Orban wrote on X.

Mr Fico’s revival means Slovakia may turn away from the broadly pro-Western and liberal democratic course it has followed since he was turfed out of power in 2018 during a wave of protests after the killing of an investigative journalist.

His route back to power was challenged by Progressive Slovakia, which is pro-Ukraine and aligned with Ms Caputova, whom Mr Fico has accused of “liberal fascism”.

In the end, Smer defeated PS by about five points. Michal Simecka, the PS leader, said he was concerned that Mr Fico would isolate Slovakia within the EU. However, the need to win over coalition partners may moderate Fico’s stance.

The Times