Michal Šimečka: “We will do everything…so that Robert Fico does not rule in Slovakia”

Slovakia’s leftist former Prime Minister Robert Fico beat his progressive rival Michal Šimečka (pictured) in a parliamentary election after campaigning to end military aid to Ukraine, but he will need to mould a coalition in order to form the next government.

Liberal party Progresivne Slovensko (Progressive Slovakia, PS), which won the second highest number of votes in a Slovak parliamentary election, still sees an option to form a ruling coalition, its leader Michal Simecka said on Sunday.

Michal Šimečka, currently a vice-president of the European Parliament, speaking after Saturday’s vote, said PS would do what it can to prevent vote winner SMER-SSD from forming a government. “It remains our aim for Slovakia to have after this election a stable pro-European government that will care for the rule of law and which begins to solve and invest into areas key for our future,”  he told supporters.

SMER-SSD, led by former prime minister Robert Fico, who campaigned on pledges to end military aid to Ukraine, won 22.94% of the vote, with results from 99.98% of voting districts counted on Sunday.

PS came in second with 17.96%, and five other parties also won seats. “SMER-SSD won the election, we of course respect that,” Simecka told a news conference.

“But at the same time we believe that this is very bad news for Slovakia. And it would be even worse news if Robert Fico succeeds in forming a government… We will do everything…so that Robert Fico does not rule in Slovakia.”

Read also: Refusal to lift ex-PM Fico’s immunity casts doubts on Slovakia’s coalition government

Michal Šimečka said he would reach out to other party leaders to discuss a way forward, and acknowledged that third-placed leftist party HLAS (Voice) had a key position.

“Basically two realistic coalitions exist: One is led by SMER and the potential other one made up of Progressive Slovakia and other partners,” Simecka said.

Image: Alexis HAULOT Copyright: © European Union 2022 – Source : EP