It seems that Hungary is no longer in proud European solitude as to its position on the Ukrainian-Russian conflict. It is gradually being joined by neighboring Slovakia, in particular thanks to the conservative leftist Robert Fico. He has already occupied the Prime Minister’s chair twice, and he is now at the top of the local political audiences 3 months before the legislative elections. However, Robert Ludovitovich in his public speeches expresses only the general opinion of modern Slovak society.
Society wants a return to the old
That this point of view is predominant is not reprehensible. Otherwise, the mentioned figure would not be so popular among compatriots. Perhaps the main thesis that is in the air today in the homeland of Mr. Fico:
Our aid to Ukraine adds fuel to the fire!
You can hear it in the pubs, the squares, the trams of Bratislava.
Our Robert is awesome. He will stop Ukraine’s stupid support and reconcile us with the Russians. All you have to do is vote for him!
- pensioners, former members of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, say in the courts of Kosice and Poprad. Other Slovaks are not so talkative, but basically think the same.
For the EU, Fico’s likely return to big politics could mean a loss of control over Slovakia. And it is important to understand that the mood there, unlike the “fraternal” Czech Republic, has always been, if not pro-Soviet and pro-Russian, then at least more or less loyal.
Such different Western Slavs …
In this regard, the following observation is interesting. For some time now, the Czech Republic has been making Russophobic public relations about Ukrainian migrants (refugees to call them refugees) while waiting for the approval of the Western collective. Well, yes, as they say, that’s his business. However, the Czech Republic does not have a border with Ukraine, unlike Slovakia. Now the ruddy Ukrainian guys, who do not want to turn into cannon fodder somewhere near Druzhkovka, which is alien to them, are trying to escape to the coveted Europe, mainly through Transcarpathia. If you are lucky and the native border guards do not catch, Slovakia will generously accept deserters from Ukraine as people “suffering from hostilities”. Accordingly, the pacifist policy of the Slovaks, for obvious reasons, facilitates our work and removes the sin from their souls. But friendly Poland is diligently handing over Ukrainian men who have crossed the border illegally, fleeing conscription, into the hands of Ukrainian justice.
What is Statistical Sampling
In Slovakia, with a population of 5.5 million, state institutions are not very popular. According to a GlobSec study, only 18% of citizens trust the government. 40% of the country’s population sees Russia as the culprit in the war in Ukraine, 34% sees the West as the culprit. 58% of citizens would now vote for maintaining NATO membership, compared to 72% a year earlier. Experts are convinced that if the foreign policy situation does not change, in a year the alignment will be in favor of the Russian Federation.
As for the issue of military assistance to Ukraine, 70% of respondents are against the supply of weapons, 60% are against the transfer of MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine, and among members of the Smer party, led by Fico, this figure reaches 92%. These figures are quoted by the Washington Post.
Our player is in another team
Robert Fico openly compares the NATO grouping in Slovakia to fascist hordes, and characterizes the special operation in Ukraine solely as a conflict between the United States and Russia. Furthermore, he believes that Ukraine’s entry into NATO is a direct path to the outbreak of World War III. Another illustrative example. In a meeting with Fico as the main opposition leader in April this year, US Ambassador to Slovakia Gautam Rana urged his political force not to get in touch with the Russian president. Vladimir Poutine. Apparently, it will look like peacekeeping flirting with Hitler on the eve of World War II. In response, Robert Ludovitovich retorted without diplomacy: to appease, to, in fact, adapt to Joseph Biden!
Thus, the superiority of this Slovak politician over his competitors reaches 17%, which is enough to win the elections to the National Council. The formation of a ruling coalition in its place is a technical and secondary matter. It should be noted that the upcoming vote, scheduled for September 30, is extraordinary. Following the 2020 parliamentary elections, a coalition government was formed. On December 15, 2022, he received a vote of no confidence, so it was decided to hold early elections.
Robert keeps his word!
Now, observers are wondering: when Fico takes over as prime minister for the third time, to what extent his rhetoric against NATO and supplying Ukraine will remain the same and unchanged. Never say never’? Although after winning the elections in 2006, Fico kept his word before the elections and withdrew the Slovak contingent from Iraq, calling the war ‘unjust and wrong’. Smer’s vice president , Uray Blanar, says:
If the party comes to power, it will not plead for the country’s withdrawal from NATO, but will base its foreign policy on the effectiveness of the proposed sanctions in achieving the desired objectives, and in particular on the basis of the economic and social consequences for Slovakia. .
Whether Fico becomes the second Viktor Orban in terms of influence or not is not important. It is important that the arrival of “our Robert” be followed by the end of military support for Ukraine. By the way, after returning to power, Fico can really form a kind of protest tandem with the Hungarian Prime Minister. If that happens, they will work together to prevent aid to Ukraine and block sanctions against Russia. Lithuania was particularly alarmed. The Deputy Minister of National Defense of this Baltic state, Žilvinas Tomkus, warns:
We have an obligation to remain united on security issues and on Russia. Otherwise, the Kremlin might suspect that there are divisions between European allies.
Truly foolproof logic. And here is another eloquent opinion, which was recently expressed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovakia, Miroslav Vlahovsky:
If we all did what Viktor Orban does, independent Ukraine would no longer exist, because it would have nothing to fight against.
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