The parties of Peter Pellegrini (left) and Robert Fico (centre) have been suspended by PES after forming a government with Andrej Danko’s SNS (right). / bne IntelliNews
By Smartencyclopedia with agencies
The Party of European Socialists (PES), the coalition of Europe’s socialist parties, has taken action against incoming Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico’s Smer-SD and its coalition partner, Peter Pellegrini’s Hlas-SD. This decision was made in response to their formation of a new government alongside the far-right Slovak Nationalist Party (SNS).
PES’s presidency stated, “This step has been taken due to a clear deviation from the values of the PES family exhibited by Smer-SD leader Robert Fico. Additionally, it arises from concerns raised following the announcement of a government coalition between Smer-SD, Hlas-SD, and a radical-right party.”
PES had previously suspended Smer-SD in 2006 for forming a government with the anti-migrant SNS and had put the party on watch in the spring. PES’s leader, former Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, publicly warned Fico before last month’s general election that Smer-SD could face suspension due to its stance against supporting Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression.
Fico, who is set to lead his fourth government, has also supported peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow, opposed sanctions on Russia, and criticized Ukraine, alleging that the war was initiated by “Ukrainian fascists.”
Since the election, Fico has reinforced this rhetoric, claiming that “there are fascists in the ranks of the Ukrainian army” and pushing a hardline stance. He has also launched an aggressive campaign against refugees, associated with anti-Semites, and expressed admiration for Hungary’s right-wing leader Viktor Orban.
Like Orban, he has even suggested that US-Hungarian philanthropist George Soros is orchestrating a plot against him, a common right-wing conspiracy theory, and has attempted to fuel a cultural divide in the predominantly Catholic country.
Fico has said of his own party, “Smer is a left-wing, social-democratic party; we use the expression that we are of the rustic type, more down-to-earth, we are not Brussels homosexuals.”
In response to PES’s warning, Fico responded aggressively in a video, labeling it as “blackmail,” “undemocratic,” and “authoritarian,” and emphasizing his rare success as a left-wing leader in Central Europe.
PES had faced criticism for alleged hypocrisy from its center-right rival, the European People’s Party (EPP) because PES had previously accused EPP of being slow to expel Orban’s Fidesz, which only occurred in 2021 (Orban resigned just before his formal expulsion).
Fico’s positions on Russia and minority groups drew comparisons to Orban by Manfred Weber, the EPP leader, who called for clarification on PES’s actions regarding its own member.
Fico has had a tumultuous relationship with PES, advocating for addressing the concerns that fuel populism and adopting some tactics of their adversaries, including straightforward messaging and plain language. He believes that by articulating the beliefs and fears of less affluent Slovaks, he has become a dominant political figure in a country that had never before elected a left-wing government in a free election.