Pro-Russia Fico Wins Election in Slovakia in Blow to Ukraine
- Robert Fico has assailed EU on Ukraine aid, Russian sanctions
- New coalition is likely to boost nationalist bias in Europe
Robert Fico
Photographer: Michaela Nagyidaiova/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
A former prime minister who’s derided the European Union’s sanctions against Russia and pledged to end military aid to Ukraine won Slovakia’s election, delivering a fresh blow to Western unity.
Robert Fico is on track to return to the eastern EU nation’s premiership after Saturday’s vote, adding to the tide of nationalist and populist forces in Europe. The parties have gained traction by tapping into voters’ frustration over the lingering impact of Covid pandemic, the region’s cost-of-living crisis, and fatigue over the war in Ukraine.