Pro-Russian party Smer secures top position in Slovakian parliamentary elections

The Slovak Statistical Office released the results early in the morning, covering 99.2% of the votes from approximately 6,000 polling stations. 

Smer, led by former Prime Minister Robert Fico, garnered 23.3% of the votes and held a stance against Ukraine, echoing Russian propaganda narratives from the Kremlin. Fico openly stated that he would halt aid to Ukraine if his party emerged victorious.

In second place was the social-liberal party Progressive Slovakia, led by Michal Šimečka, with 17% of the votes. This party has two potential coalition options:

• Collaborating with the parties Hlas, SaS, and KDH, the coalition would secure 85 seats, forming a comfortable majority in the 150-seat parliament.

• Partnering with OĽaNO, SaS, and KDH, the coalition would attain a narrower majority of 77 seats.

The Social Democratic Party Hlas secured the third position with 15.03% of the votes.

The ultra-nationalist Slovak National Party, which pursued pro-Russian policies, received 5.7% of the vote.

• Initial exit polls had indicated that the pro-European party Progressive Slovakia, led by Michal Šimečka, was leading, while the pro-Russian left party Smer, led by former Prime Minister Robert Fico, was in second place. 

• Robert Fico, the head of the Smer party, holds pro-Russian views and opposes Western and EU sanctions against Russia. He also vowed to veto any application by Ukraine to join NATO.