Slovakia swears in a brand new Cupboard led by a populist ex-premier who opposes assist for Ukraine

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — Slovakia’s president swore in a brand new authorities Wednesday, led by a former populist prime minister poised to finish the country’s military aid for Ukraine as it fights Russia’s invasion.

Robert Fico returned to energy and took over as prime minister for the fourth time after his leftist Smer, or Route, celebration received Slovakia’s Sept 30 parliamentary election.

The celebration received 42 seats within the 150-seat Parliament after campaigning on a pro-Russian and anti-American platform.

“Immediately, you simply do not take over energy however naturally additionally duty for the republic and its residents,” President Zuzana Caputova advised the brand new Cupboard.

Fico fashioned a parliamentary majority by signing a coalition government deal with the leftist Hlas, or Voice, party and the ultranationalist Slovak Nationwide Get together.

Hlas, led by Fico’s former deputy in Smer, Peter Pellegrini, gained 27 seats. Pellegrini parted methods with Fico after the scandal-tainted Smer misplaced the earlier election in 2020.

Pellegrini changed Fico as prime minister after he was compelled to resign following main anti-government avenue protests ensuing from the 2018 killing of journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancée.

The reunion of Fico and Pellegrini was key for the creation of the brand new authorities. The third accomplice, the Slovak Nationwide Get together, is a clearly pro-Russian group; it received 10 seats within the legislature.

“On behalf of the Slovak authorities, I would like to vow that we’ll be a constructive authorities,” Fico stated. “You’ll hear a sovereign Slovak voice from the Slovak authorities, from the Slovak ministries.”

Fico’s victory might mark a dramatic turnaround within the nation’s overseas coverage and will pressure a fragile unity in the European Union and NATO.

He can have his first probability to current his views at a two-day summit of EU leaders in Brussels that opens on Thursday.

Slovakia, a rustic of 5.5 million folks which shares a border with Ukraine, has till now been a staunch supporter of Kyiv since Russia invaded in February final yr, donating arms and opening its borders for refugees fleeing the conflict.

When he served as prime minister in 2006-2010 and once more in 2012-2018, Fico had a profession diplomat within the put up of overseas minister.

This time, he opted for a loyalist and his deputy in Smer, Juraj Blanar, who beforehand served as the top of a regional authorities however has no expertise in diplomacy.

Fico vowed to pursue a “sovereign” overseas coverage.

He opposes EU sanctions on Russia, questions whether or not Ukraine can power out the invading Russian troops and needs to dam Ukraine from becoming a member of NATO. He has proposed that as a substitute of sending arms to Kyiv, the EU and america ought to use their affect to power Russia and Ukraine to strike a compromise peace deal.

Fico has repeated Russian President Vladimir Putin’s claims that the Ukrainian authorities runs a Nazi state from which ethnic Russians in the country’s east needed protection.

The brand new authorities is but to launch its coverage program however Fico already urged it should embody a tricky stance towards migration and non-governmental organizations that obtain funding from overseas.

Quite a few the brand new ministers have been linked with disinformation campaigns or are recognized for spreading false information, together with Tradition Minister Martina Simkovicova, nominated by the Slovak Nationwide Get together.

For the reason that earlier authorities took energy in 2020 after campaigning on an anti-corruption ticket, dozens of senior officers, cops, judges, prosecutors, politicians and businesspeople linked to Smer have been charged and convicted of corruption and different crimes.

Fico himself and his former Inside Minister Robert Kalinak confronted prison prices final yr for making a prison group and misuse of energy. Kalinak is the protection minister within the new authorities.

Recognized for his tirades towards journalists, Fico campaigned towards immigration and LGBTQ+ rights and threatened to dismiss investigators from the Nationwide Legal Company and the particular prosecutor who offers with essentially the most severe crimes and corruption.

Fico’s critics fear that his return to energy may lead Slovakia to desert its course in different methods, following the trail of Hungary underneath Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Apart from the put up of prime minister, Fico’s Smer has six different Cupboard ministers. Hlas will get seven whereas the Slovak Nationwide Get together has three.