Slovakia’s Fico to Return to Power as Coalition Deal Sealed
- Fico’s Smer secures agreement with Voice, nationalist parties
- Former premier Fico has challenged EU on Russia, migration
Robert Fico
Photographer: Michaela Nagyidaiova/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Slovakia’s Robert Fico won the backing of two allied parties, putting the former prime minister who campaigned to end military aid to Ukraine on course to return to power this month.
Fico’s comeback in the eastern European Union member state presents a risk to the bloc’s unity over Ukraine as the conflict grinds on and the Israel-Hamas war risks diverting resources and attention. A populist who led Slovakia for 10 years over three terms before resigning in 2018, Fico has challenged EU policy ranging from Russia to climate to migration.