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| majority_seats = 76
| majority_seats = 76
| opinion_polls = Opinion polling for the 2023 Slovak parliamentary election
| opinion_polls = Opinion polling for the 2023 Slovak parliamentary election
| turnout = 68.5% {{increase}} 2.7[[percentage points|pp]]
| turnout = 68.5% ({{increase}} 2.7[[percentage points|pp]])
| image_size = 130x130px
| image_size = 130x130px

| image1 = Robert Fico 854x1174.jpg
| image1 = Robert Fico, Nov 2023 cropped.jpg
| leader1 = [[Robert Fico]]
| leader1 = [[Robert Fico]]
| party1 = Direction – Social Democracy
| party1 = Direction – Social Democracy
| last_election1 =
| last_election1 =
| seats1 = 42
| seats1 = '''42'''
| seat_change1 = {{increase}} 4
| seat_change1 = {{increase}} 4
| popular_vote1 = 681,017
| popular_vote1 = '''681,017'''
| percentage1 = 23.0%
| percentage1 = '''23.0%'''
| swing1 = {{increase}} 4.7 pp
| swing1 = {{increase}} 4.7 pp

| image2 = Michal Šimečka pri predstavovaní volebného programu (cropped).jpg
| image2 = Michal Šimečka pri predstavovaní volebného programu (cropped).jpg
| leader2 = [[Michal Šimečka]]
| leader2 = [[Michal Šimečka]]
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| percentage2 = 18.0%
| percentage2 = 18.0%
| swing2 = {{increase}} 11.0 pp
| swing2 = {{increase}} 11.0 pp

| image3 = Peter Pellegrini 551x759.jpg
| image3 = Peter Pellegrini 551x759.jpg
| leader3 = [[Peter Pellegrini]]
| leader3 = [[Peter Pellegrini]]
| party3 = Voice – Social Democracy
| party3 = Voice – Social Democracy
| last_election3 =
| last_election3 = ''Did not exist''
| seats3 = 27
| seats3 = 27
| seat_change3 = ''New party''
| seat_change3 = ''New party''
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| percentage3 = 14.7%
| percentage3 = 14.7%
| swing3 = ''New party''
| swing3 = ''New party''

| image4 = Igor Matovič October 2020 (cropped).jpg
| image4 = Igor Matovič after an interview (2020).jpg
| leader4 = [[Igor Matovič]]
| leader4 = [[Igor Matovič]]
| party4 = OĽaNO and Friends
| party4 = Ordinary People and Independent Personalities
| alliance4 = OĽaNO and Friends
| last_election4 =
| last_election4 = 64{{Efn|Including [[For the People (Slovakia)|For the People]] - 12; not including [[Change from Below]] - 1}}
| seats4 = 16
| seats4 = 16
| seat_change4 = {{decrease}} 49
| seat_change4 = {{decrease}} 48
| popular_vote4 = 264,137
| popular_vote4 = 264,137
| percentage4 = 8.9%
| percentage4 = 8.9%
| swing4 = {{decrease}} 21.9 pp
| swing4 = {{decrease}} 21.9 pp

| image5 = Milan Majerský.jpg
| image5 = Milan Majerský.jpg
| leader5 = [[Milan Majerský]]
| leader5 = [[Milan Majerský]]
| party5 = Christian Democratic Movement
| party5 = Christian Democratic Movement
| alliance5 = —
| color5 = {{party color|Christian Democratic Movement (2021)}}
| color5 = {{party color|Christian Democratic Movement (2021)}}
| last_election5 =
| last_election5 = 0
| seats5 = 12
| seats5 = 12
| seat_change5 = {{increase}} 12
| seat_change5 = {{increase}} 12
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| percentage5 = 6.8%
| percentage5 = 6.8%
| swing5 = {{increase}} 2.1 pp
| swing5 = {{increase}} 2.1 pp

| image6 = Richard Sulik, portrait.jpg
| image6 = Richard Sulík, 29 October 2022.jpg
| leader6 = [[Richard Sulík]]
| leader6 = [[Richard Sulík]]
| party6 = Freedom and Solidarity
| party6 = Freedom and Solidarity
| alliance6 = —
| color6 = {{party color|Freedom and Solidarity (2023)}}
| color6 = {{party color|Freedom and Solidarity (2023)}}
| last_election6 =
| last_election6 =
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| percentage6 = 6.3%
| percentage6 = 6.3%
| swing6 = {{increase}} 0.1 pp
| swing6 = {{increase}} 0.1 pp

| image7 = Andrej-Danko-2016.jpg
| image7 = Andrej-Danko-2016.jpg
| leader7 = [[Andrej Danko (politician)|Andrej Danko]]
| leader7 = [[Andrej Danko (politician)|Andrej Danko]]
| party7 = Slovak National Party
| party7 = Slovak National Party
| last_election7 =
| last_election7 = 0
| seats7 = 10
| seats7 = 10
| seat_change7 = {{increase}} 10
| seat_change7 = {{increase}} 10
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| percentage7 = 5.6%
| percentage7 = 5.6%
| swing7 = {{increase}} 2.4 pp
| swing7 = {{increase}} 2.4 pp

| map_image = File:Slovak parliamentary election map 2023.svg
| map_image = File:Slovak parliamentary election map 2023.svg
| map_caption = Results of the election, showing vote strength by district
| map_caption = Results of the election, showing vote strength by district

| title = [[Prime Minister of Slovakia|Prime Minister]]
| title = [[Prime Minister of Slovakia|Prime Minister]]
| before_election = [[Ľudovít Ódor]] (acting)
| before_election = [[Ľudovít Ódor]] (acting) | before_party = [[Independent politician|Independent]]
| after_election = [[Robert Fico]] | after_party = [[Smer]]
| before_party = [[Independent politician|Independent]]
| after_election = [[Robert Fico]]
| after_party = [[Smer-SD]]
}}
}}

Early parliamentary elections were held in the [[Slovakia|Slovak Republic]] on 30 September 2023 to elect members of the [[National Council (Slovakia)|National Council]]. Regular elections were scheduled to be held in 2024. However, on 15 December 2022 the [[Cabinet of Eduard Heger|government]] lost a [[no-confidence]] vote.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Janiček |first1=Karel |title=Slovak coalition government collapses after losing no-confidence vote in parliament |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/slovak-coalition-government-collapses-after-losing-no-confidence-vote-in-parliament |website=PBS |access-date=28 January 2023 |date=15 December 2022 |archive-date=8 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208084503/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/slovak-coalition-government-collapses-after-losing-no-confidence-vote-in-parliament |url-status=live }}</ref> Subsequently, the National Council amended the Constitution so that an early election could be held on 30 September 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kahn |first=Michael |date=22 January 2023 |editor-last=Lawson |editor-first=Hugh |title=Slovakia's former coalition heads agree to early parliamentary elections |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/slovakias-former-coalition-heads-agree-early-parliamentary-elections-2023-01-22/ |access-date=24 September 2023 |website=Reuters |archive-date=30 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930234304/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/slovakias-former-coalition-heads-agree-early-parliamentary-elections-2023-01-22/ |url-status=live }}</ref> This was the first snap election in the country since [[2012 Slovak parliamentary election|2012]].
Early parliamentary elections were held in the [[Slovakia|Slovak Republic]] on 30 September 2023 to elect members of the [[National Council (Slovakia)|National Council]]. Regular elections were scheduled to be held in 2024. However, on 15 December 2022 the [[Cabinet of Eduard Heger|government]] lost a [[no-confidence]] vote.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Janiček |first1=Karel |title=Slovak coalition government collapses after losing no-confidence vote in parliament |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/slovak-coalition-government-collapses-after-losing-no-confidence-vote-in-parliament |website=PBS |access-date=28 January 2023 |date=15 December 2022 |archive-date=8 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208084503/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/slovak-coalition-government-collapses-after-losing-no-confidence-vote-in-parliament |url-status=live }}</ref> Subsequently, the National Council amended the Constitution so that an early election could be held on 30 September 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kahn |first=Michael |date=22 January 2023 |editor-last=Lawson |editor-first=Hugh |title=Slovakia's former coalition heads agree to early parliamentary elections |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/slovakias-former-coalition-heads-agree-early-parliamentary-elections-2023-01-22/ |access-date=24 September 2023 |website=Reuters |archive-date=30 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930234304/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/slovakias-former-coalition-heads-agree-early-parliamentary-elections-2023-01-22/ |url-status=live }}</ref> This was the first snap election in the country since [[2012 Slovak parliamentary election|2012]].


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==Electoral system==
==Electoral system==
The 150 members of the [[National Council (Slovakia)|National Council]] were elected by [[proportional representation]] in a single nationwide constituency with an [[electoral threshold]] of 5% for single parties, 7% for coalitions of two or three parties, and 10% for coalitions of four or more parties. The [[election]] used the [[open list]] system, with seats allocated using [[largest remainder method]] with [[Hagenbach-Bischoff quota]], a variant of the [[D'Hondt method]].<ref>[https://www.zakonypreludi.sk/zz/2014-180/znenie-20230604#p68 Slovak law 180/2014 § 68]</ref> Voters were able to cast up to four preferential votes for candidates of the selected party.<ref>{{cite web|title=Slovakia Národná rada (National Council) Electoral System|url=http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2285_B.htm|publisher=[[Inter-Parliamentary Union]]|access-date=8 March 2016}}</ref>
The 150 members of the [[National Council (Slovakia)|National Council]] were elected by [[proportional representation]] in a [[At-large|single nationwide constituency]] with an [[electoral threshold]] of 5% for single parties, 7% for coalitions of two or three parties, and 10% for coalitions of four or more parties. The [[election]] used the [[open list]] system, with seats allocated using [[largest remainder method]] with [[Hagenbach-Bischoff quota]], a variant of the [[D'Hondt method]].<ref>[https://www.zakonypreludi.sk/zz/2014-180/znenie-20230604#p68 Slovak law 180/2014 § 68]</ref> Voters were able to cast up to four preferential votes for candidates of the selected party.<ref>{{cite web|title=Slovakia Národná rada (National Council) Electoral System|url=http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2285_B.htm|publisher=[[Inter-Parliamentary Union]]|access-date=8 March 2016}}</ref>


All citizens of the [[Slovakia|Slovak Republic]] were allowed to vote except for citizens under 18 years of age, [[Prisoner|felons]] in prison convicted of serious offenses, and people declared ineligible to perform legal acts by court. Voters abroad on election day were allowed to vote by [[Postal voting|mail]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Voľba poštou, Ministerstvo vnútra SR - Verejná správa |url=http://www.minv.sk/?nr16-posta |language=sk |publisher=Ministry of the Interior |access-date=14 December 2015}}</ref> All citizens, who were 21 years of age or older on the election day and are permanent residents of Slovakia, were allowed to run as candidates except for [[Prisoner|prisoners]], convicted felons, and those declared ineligible to perform legal acts by court.<ref>{{cite news |date=9 October 2015 |title=Prieskum: Voľby by vyhral Smer, OĽaNO-NOVA mimo parlamentu
All citizens of the [[Slovakia|Slovak Republic]] were allowed to vote except for citizens under 18 years of age, [[Prisoner|felons]] in prison convicted of serious offenses, and people declared ineligible to perform legal acts by court. Voters abroad on election day were allowed to vote by [[Postal voting|mail]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Voľba poštou, Ministerstvo vnútra SR - Verejná správa |url=http://www.minv.sk/?nr16-posta |language=sk |publisher=Ministry of the Interior |access-date=14 December 2015}}</ref> All citizens 21 years of age or older on the election day and are permanent residents of Slovakia, were allowed to run as candidates except for [[Prisoner|prisoners]], convicted felons, and those declared ineligible to perform legal acts by court.<ref>{{cite news |date=9 October 2015 |title=Prieskum: Voľby by vyhral Smer, OĽaNO-NOVA mimo parlamentu
|url=http://spravy.pravda.sk/domace/clanok/370210-prieskum-volby-by-vyhral-smer-so-ziskom-40-olano-nova-mimo-parlamentu/ |language=sk |newspaper=[[Pravda (Slovakia)|Pravda]]|access-date=13 October 2015}}</ref> All participating parties must register 90 days before election day and pay a [[Election deposit|deposit]] of €17,000 which would be refunded to all parties gaining at least 3% of the votes.
|url=http://spravy.pravda.sk/domace/clanok/370210-prieskum-volby-by-vyhral-smer-so-ziskom-40-olano-nova-mimo-parlamentu/ |language=sk |newspaper=[[Pravda (Slovakia)|Pravda]]|access-date=13 October 2015}}</ref> All participating parties must register 90 days before election day and pay a [[Election deposit|deposit]] of €17,000 which would be refunded to all parties gaining at least 3% of the votes.


Voters not present in their electoral district at the time of the elections were allowed to request a [[Voter registration|voting certificate]] (voličský preukaz), which allowed them to vote in any district regardless of their residency. Voters abroad on [[election day]] were allowed to request a postal vote. According to the Central Election Committee, approximately 72,000 citizens of the [[Slovakia|Slovak Republic]] living abroad had requested a postal vote for the [[election]]. The deadline for requests passed on 9 August 2023.
Voters not present in their electoral district at the time of the elections were allowed to request a [[Voter registration|voting certificate]] (voličský preukaz), which allowed them to vote in any district regardless of their residency. Voters abroad on [[election day]] were allowed to request a postal vote. According to the Central Election Committee, approximately 72,000 citizens of the [[Slovakia|Slovak Republic]] living abroad had requested a postal vote for the [[election]]. The deadline for requests passed on 9 August 2023.


== Political parties and lead candidates ==
==Composition of the National Council==
{{Main|List of members of the National Council of Slovakia, 2020–2023}}
{{Main|List of members of the National Council of Slovakia, 2020–2023}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
At the first parliamentary session on 20 March 2020, 6 parliamentary groups were established: OĽaNO, Smer, We Are Family, ĽSNS, SaS and For the People.
|+Parties on the ballot
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left"
! rowspan="2" |#
|+
! colspan="4" rowspan="2" |Group/party
! colspan="3" rowspan="2" |List
! rowspan="2" |Ideology
! rowspan="2" |Main ideology
! rowspan="2" |Leader
! rowspan="2" |[[Lead candidate]]
! colspan="2" |[[2020 Slovak parliamentary election|Previous election (2020)]]
! colspan="2" |Deputies
!2023
|-
|-
!Votes (%)
!Elected 2020
!'''Seats'''
!Incumbent 2023
!Seats
|-
|-
!3
| rowspan="4" style="background:{{Party color|OĽaNO and Friends}};" |
| style="background:{{party color|Progressive Slovakia}};" |
| rowspan="4" |[[OĽaNO and Friends|OĽaNO and<br/>Friends]]
|[[Progressive Slovakia]]
|style="background:#b2c933;"|
| style="text-align:center;" |PS
|[[Ordinary People and Independent Personalities|OĽaNO]]<br />{{small|Ordinary People and Independent Personalities}}
|[[Liberalism]]
|[[Michal Šimečka]]
|{{Percentage bar|7.0|hex=00bdff}}
|{{composition bar|0|150|hex={{party color|Progressive Slovakia}}}}
|{{composition bar|1|150|hex={{party color|Progressive Slovakia}}}}
|-
!5
| style="background:{{party color|OĽaNO and Friends}};" |
|Coalition [[Slovakia (political party)|OĽaNO]]–[[Christian Union (Slovakia)|Christian Union]]–[[For the People (Slovakia)|For the People]]
| style="text-align:center;" |OĽaNO–KÚ–ZĽ
|[[Conservatism]]
|[[Conservatism]]
|[[Igor Matovič]]
|[[Igor Matovič]]
|{{composition bar|43|150|hex=#b2c933}}
|{{Percentage bar|30.8|hex=485156}}
|{{composition bar|29|150|hex=#b2c933}}
|{{composition bar|65|150|hex={{party color|OĽaNO and Friends}}}}
|{{composition bar|37|150|hex={{party color|OĽaNO and Friends}}}}
|-
|-
!12
|style="background:#06aee2;"|
| style="background:{{party color|Freedom and Solidarity}};" |
|[[Christian Union (Slovakia)|KÚ]]<br />{{small|Christian Union}}
|[[Freedom and Solidarity]]
|[[Conservatism]]
| style="text-align:center;" |SaS
|[[Anna Záborská]]
|[[Liberalism]]
|{{composition bar|5|150|hex=#06aee2}}
|[[Richard Sulík]]
|{{composition bar|5|150|hex=#06aee2}}
|{{Percentage bar|6.2|hex=9BC31C}}
|{{composition bar|13|150|hex={{party color|Freedom and Solidarity}}}}
|{{composition bar|19|150|hex={{party color|Freedom and Solidarity}}}}
|-
|-
!15
| style="background:#d11820;" |
| style="background:{{party color|Slovak National Party}};" |
|[[NOVA (Slovakia)|NOVA]]
|[[Slovak National Party]]
|[[Conservatism]]
| style="text-align:center;" |SNS
|[[Gábor Grendel]]
|[[Ultranationalism]]
|{{composition bar|2|150|hex=#d11820}}
|[[Andrej Danko]]
|{{composition bar|2|150|hex=#d11820}}
|{{Percentage bar|3.2|hex=253A79}}
|{{composition bar|0|150|hex={{party color|Slovak National Party}}}}
|{{composition bar|3|150|hex={{party color|Slovak National Party}}}}
|-
|-
! scope="row" |16
|style="background:#fdbb12;"|
| style="background:{{party color|Direction – Social Democracy}};" |
|[[For the People (Slovakia)|For the People]]{{efn|In September 2021, For the People parliamentary group dissolved after it fell below the required threshold of 8 deputies.}}
|[[Direction – Social Democracy]]
|[[Liberal conservatism]]
| style="text-align:center;" |Smer
|[[Veronika Remišová]]
|{{Nowrap|[[Social conservatism]]}}
|{{composition bar|12|150|hex=#fdbb12}}
|{{Sortname|Robert|Fico}}
|{{composition bar|1|150|hex=#fdbb12}}
|{{Percentage bar|18.3|hex=d82222}}
|{{composition bar|38|150|hex={{party color|Direction – Social Democracy}}}}
|{{composition bar|27|150|hex={{party color|Direction – Social Democracy}}}}
|-
|-
!17
|style="background:#d82222;"|
|colspan=3|[[Direction – Social Democracy|Smer]]<br />{{small|Direction – Social Democracy}}
| style="background:{{party color|Voice – Social Democracy}};" |
|[[Voice – Social Democracy]]
|[[Left-wing nationalism]]
| style="text-align:center;" |Hlas
|[[Robert Fico]]
|{{Nowrap|[[Social democracy]]}}
|{{composition bar|38|150|hex=#d82222}}
|{{composition bar|27|150|hex=#d82222}}
|-
|style="background:{{party color|We Are Family (Slovakia)}}"|
|colspan=3|[[We Are Family (Slovakia)|We Are Family]]
|[[National conservatism]]
|[[Boris Kollár]]
|{{composition bar|17|150|hex={{party color|We Are Family (Slovakia)}}}}
|{{composition bar|16|150|hex={{party color|We Are Family (Slovakia)}}}}
|-
|style="background:{{party color|Freedom and Solidarity (2023)}}"|
|colspan=3|[[Freedom and Solidarity|SaS]]<br />{{small|Freedom and Solidarity}}
|[[Right-liberalism]]
|[[Richard Sulík]]
|{{composition bar|13|150|hex={{party color|Freedom and Solidarity (2023)}}}}
|{{composition bar|20|150|hex={{party color|Freedom and Solidarity (2023)}}}}
|-
|style="background:{{party color|Voice – Social Democracy}}"|
|colspan=3|[[Voice – Social Democracy|Hlas]]{{efn|In June 2020, 11 deputies elected for Smer–SD left its parliamentary group to found Hlas.}}<br />{{small|Voice – Social Democracy}}
|[[Social democracy]]
|[[Peter Pellegrini]]
|[[Peter Pellegrini]]
|—
| bgcolor="lightgrey"|
|—
|{{composition bar|11|150|hex={{party color|Voice – Social Democracy}}}}
|{{composition bar|11|150|hex={{party color|Voice – Social Democracy}}}}
|-
|-
!23
|style="background:#277d2a;"|
| style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Movement (2021)}};" |
|colspan=3|[[People's Party Our Slovakia|ĽSNS]]{{efn|In April 2022, ĽSNS parliamentary group dissolved after it fell below the required threshold of 8 deputies.}}<br />{{small|Kotlebists – People's Party Our Slovakia}}
|[[Christian Democratic Movement]]
|[[Neo-Nazism]]
| style="text-align:center;" |KDH
|[[Marian Kotleba]]
|{{Nowrap|[[Christian democracy]]}}
|{{composition bar|14|150|hex=#277d2a}}
|[[Milan Majerský]]
|{{composition bar|7|150|hex=#277d2a}}
|{{Percentage bar|4.7|hex=173a70}}
|-
|style="background:{{party color|REPUBLIC (Slovakia)}}"|
|{{composition bar|0|150|hex={{party color|Christian Democratic Movement (2021)}}}}
|{{composition bar|0|150|hex={{party color|Christian Democratic Movement (2021)}}}}
|colspan=3|[[Republic (Slovakia)|Republic]]{{efn|In January 2021, 5 deputies elected for ĽSNS left its parliamentary group to found Republic.}}
|[[Neo-fascism]]
|[[Milan Uhrík]]
| bgcolor="lightgrey"|
|{{composition bar|5|150|hex={{party color|REPUBLIC (Slovakia)}}}}
|-
|style="background:#fdbb12;"|
|colspan=3|[[For the People (Slovakia)|For the People]]{{efn|In September 2021, For the People parliamentary group dissolved after it fell below the required threshold of 8 deputies.}}
|[[Liberal conservatism]]
|[[Veronika Remišová]]
|{{composition bar|12|150|hex=#fdbb12}}
|{{composition bar|1|150|hex=#fdbb12}}
|-
|style="background:#f2c603;"|
|colspan=3|[[Change from Below]]{{efn|In December 2022, Change from Below terminated its alliance with OĽaNO and its 3 deputies elected on a joint list left OĽaNO parliamentary group.}}
|[[Liberal conservatism]]
|[[Ján Budaj]]
|{{composition bar|3|150|hex=#f2c603}}
|{{composition bar|0|150|hex=#f2c603}}
|-
| style="background:#032e64;" |
|colspan=3|[[Life – National Party|Life]]{{efn|In May 2020, Život terminated its alliance with ĽSNS and its 3 deputies elected on a joint list left ĽSNS parliamentary group.}}<br />{{small|Life – National Party}}
|[[Christian right]]
|[[Tomáš Taraba]]
|{{composition bar|3|150|hex=#032e64}}
|{{composition bar|3|150|hex=#032e64}}
|-
|style="background:#00bdff;"|
|colspan=3|[[Progressive Slovakia|PS]]{{efn|In March 2021, a deputy elected for For the People left its parliamentary group to join PS}}<br />{{small|Progressive Slovakia}}
|[[Social liberalism]]
|[[Michal Šimečka]]
| bgcolor="lightgrey"|
|{{composition bar|1|150|hex=#00bdff}}
|-
|-
|style="background:{{party color|Democrats (Slovakia)}}"|
|colspan=3|[[Democrats (Slovakia)|Democrats]]{{efn|In February 2021, a deputy elected for For the People left its parliamentary group to join SPOLU. In March 2023 several deputies from the OĽANO group joined the Democrats.}}
|[[Liberal conservatism]]
|[[Eduard Heger]]
| bgcolor="lightgrey"|
|{{composition bar|16|150|hex={{party color|Democrats (Slovakia)}}}}
|}
|}


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==Issues and developments==
==Issues and developments==


2023 election issues included high inflation, Slovakia's position on the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine|war in Ukraine]] and the related [[2021–2023 global energy crisis|global energy crisis]], [[COVID-19]], internal fights within the previous government, corruption scandals and immigration;<ref name="soon_2023_09_28_cnn">[https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/28/europe/slovakia-election-russia-supporter-intl-cmd/index.html "A NATO country could soon have a pro-Russian leader,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230929121900/https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/28/europe/slovakia-election-russia-supporter-intl-cmd/index.html |date=29 September 2023 }} updated September 28, 2023, [[Cable News Network|CNN]], retrieved September 29, 2023</ref><ref name="knife_edge_2023_09_27_reuters">[https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/27/slovakias-knife-edge-election-to-determine-stance-on-ukraine "Slovakia’s knife-edge election to determine stance on Ukraine,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230929062251/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/27/slovakias-knife-edge-election-to-determine-stance-on-ukraine |date=29 September 2023 }} September 27, 2023, [[Reuters]] in [[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al Jazeera]], retrieved September 29, 2023</ref> questions of rights and values (particularly [[LGBTQ+]] issues) were covered during the campaign by [[Al Jazeera English]], [[BBC]]<ref name="knife_edge_2023_09_27_reuters"/><ref name="fico_2023_09_29_bbc">[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66938694 "Ukraine war: Slovakia's Robert Fico eyes comeback in Saturday's election,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230929155413/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66938694 |date=29 September 2023 }} September 29, 2023, [[British Broadcasting Corporation|BBC]], retrieved September 29, 2023</ref> and [[Pravda (Slovakia)|Pravda]].<ref>{{cite news | last = Mogilevskaia | first = Anna | title = Sulík pre Pravdu: Pliagou Slovenska je silný štát, nie LGBTI. Po voľbách si viem predstaviť SaS vo vláde | work = Pravda | url = https://spravy.pravda.sk/domace/clanok/680830-sulik-pre-pravdu-pliagou-slovenska-je-silny-stat-nie-lgbt-vo-vlade-mame-zaujem-o-rezorty-ktore-sme-doteraz-mali-spolupracu-viem/ | issn = 1336-197X | publisher = Our Media SR | location = Bratislava | date = 2023-09-09 | access-date = 2023-09-23 | archive-date = 4 October 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231004232503/https://spravy.pravda.sk/domace/clanok/680830-sulik-pre-pravdu-pliagou-slovenska-je-silny-stat-nie-lgbt-vo-vlade-mame-zaujem-o-rezorty-ktore-sme-doteraz-mali-spolupracu-viem/ | url-status = live }}</ref>
2023 election issues included high inflation, Slovakia's position on the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] and the related [[2021–2023 global energy crisis|global energy crisis]], [[COVID-19]], internal fights within the previous government, corruption scandals and immigration;<ref name="soon_2023_09_28_cnn">[https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/28/europe/slovakia-election-russia-supporter-intl-cmd/index.html "A NATO country could soon have a pro-Russian leader,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230929121900/https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/28/europe/slovakia-election-russia-supporter-intl-cmd/index.html |date=29 September 2023 }} updated September 28, 2023, [[Cable News Network|CNN]], retrieved September 29, 2023</ref><ref name="knife_edge_2023_09_27_reuters">[https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/27/slovakias-knife-edge-election-to-determine-stance-on-ukraine "Slovakia’s knife-edge election to determine stance on Ukraine,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230929062251/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/27/slovakias-knife-edge-election-to-determine-stance-on-ukraine |date=29 September 2023 }} September 27, 2023, [[Reuters]] in [[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al Jazeera]], retrieved September 29, 2023</ref> questions of rights and values (particularly [[LGBTQ+]] issues) were covered during the campaign by [[Al Jazeera English]], [[BBC]]<ref name="knife_edge_2023_09_27_reuters"/><ref name="fico_2023_09_29_bbc">[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66938694 "Ukraine war: Slovakia's Robert Fico eyes comeback in Saturday's election,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230929155413/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66938694 |date=29 September 2023 }} September 29, 2023, [[British Broadcasting Corporation|BBC]], retrieved September 29, 2023</ref> and [[Pravda (Slovakia)|Pravda]].<ref>{{cite news | last = Mogilevskaia | first = Anna | title = Sulík pre Pravdu: Pliagou Slovenska je silný štát, nie LGBTI. Po voľbách si viem predstaviť SaS vo vláde | work = Pravda | url = https://spravy.pravda.sk/domace/clanok/680830-sulik-pre-pravdu-pliagou-slovenska-je-silny-stat-nie-lgbt-vo-vlade-mame-zaujem-o-rezorty-ktore-sme-doteraz-mali-spolupracu-viem/ | issn = 1336-197X | publisher = Our Media SR | location = Bratislava | date = 2023-09-09 | access-date = 2023-09-23 | archive-date = 4 October 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231004232503/https://spravy.pravda.sk/domace/clanok/680830-sulik-pre-pravdu-pliagou-slovenska-je-silny-stat-nie-lgbt-vo-vlade-mame-zaujem-o-rezorty-ktore-sme-doteraz-mali-spolupracu-viem/ | url-status = live }}</ref>


By the week of the election, popularity polls indicated that the two strongest parties were the [[Progressive Slovakia]] (led by pro-European [[Michal Šimečka]], a member of the [[European Parliament]] (EP) since 2019, and EP Vice-President since 2022, who has committed to maintaining support for Ukraine) and [[Direction – Social Democracy|Smer-SD]] (headed by [[Robert Fico]], three-time former prime minister, who has committed to ending Slovakia's support for Ukraine); however, neither appeared to be commanding a majority, and the [[British Broadcasting Corporation|BBC]] projected neither would top 20% of the vote,<ref name="fico_2023_09_29_bbc" /> so each would have to attempt to build a coalition with other parties to achieve the majority needed to rule.<ref name="soon_2023_09_28_cnn" /><ref name="knife_edge_2023_09_27_reuters" /><ref name="fico_2023_09_29_bbc" /> Consequently, as many as 10 parties could wind up in the government.<ref name="fico_2023_09_29_bbc" />
By the week of the election, popularity polls indicated that the two strongest parties were the [[Progressive Slovakia]] (led by pro-European [[Michal Šimečka]], a member of the [[European Parliament]] (EP) since 2019, and EP Vice-President since 2022, who has committed to maintaining support for Ukraine) and [[Direction – Social Democracy|Smer-SD]] (headed by [[Robert Fico]], three-time former prime minister, who has committed to ending Slovakia's support for Ukraine); however, neither appeared to be commanding a majority, and the [[British Broadcasting Corporation|BBC]] projected neither would top 20% of the vote,<ref name="fico_2023_09_29_bbc" /> so each would have to attempt to build a coalition with other parties to achieve the majority needed to rule.<ref name="soon_2023_09_28_cnn" /><ref name="knife_edge_2023_09_27_reuters" /><ref name="fico_2023_09_29_bbc" /> Consequently, as many as 10 parties could wind up in the government.<ref name="fico_2023_09_29_bbc" />
Line 762: Line 737:
|party2=[[Progressive Slovakia]]|votes2=533136|seats2=32|sc2=+32
|party2=[[Progressive Slovakia]]|votes2=533136|seats2=32|sc2=+32
|party3=[[Voice – Social Democracy]]|votes3=436415|seats3=27|sc3=New
|party3=[[Voice – Social Democracy]]|votes3=436415|seats3=27|sc3=New
|party4=[[OĽaNO and Friends]]|votes4=264137|seats4=16|sc4=–49
|party4=[[OĽaNO and Friends]]|votes4=264137|seats4=16|sc4=–48
|party5=[[Christian Democratic Movement]]|color5={{party color|Christian Democratic Movement (2021)}}|votes5=202515|seats5=12|sc5=+12
|party5=[[Christian Democratic Movement]]|color5={{party color|Christian Democratic Movement (2021)}}|votes5=202515|seats5=12|sc5=+12
|party6=[[Freedom and Solidarity]]|color6={{party color|Freedom and Solidarity (2023)}}|votes6= 187645|seats6=11|sc6=–2
|party6=[[Freedom and Solidarity]]|color6={{party color|Freedom and Solidarity (2023)}}|votes6= 187645|seats6=11|sc6=–2
Line 772: Line 747:
|party12=[[People's Party Our Slovakia]]|votes12=25003|seats12=0|sc12=–17
|party12=[[People's Party Our Slovakia]]|votes12=25003|seats12=0|sc12=–17
|party13=[[Communist Party of Slovakia]]|votes13=9867|seats13=0|sc13=New
|party13=[[Communist Party of Slovakia]]|votes13=9867|seats13=0|sc13=New
|party14=Pirate Party – Slovakia|color14=#000000|votes14=9358|seats14=0|sc14=New
|party14={{ill|Pirate Party – Slovakia|sk|Pirátska strana – Slovensko}}|color14=#000000|votes14=9358|seats14=0|sc14=New
|party15=[[Modrí, Most–Híd]]|color15={{party color|The Blues – European Slovakia}}|votes15=7935|seats15=0|sc15=New
|party15=[[Modrí, Most–Híd]]|color15={{party color|The Blues – European Slovakia}}|votes15=7935|seats15=0|sc15=New
|party16=[[Hungarian Forum]]|votes16=3486|seats16=0|sc16=New
|party16=[[Hungarian Forum]]|votes16=3486|seats16=0|sc16=New
|party17=MySlovensko|color17=#2D3ED7|votes17=2786|seats17=0|sc17=New
|party17={{ill|MySlovensko|sk|MySlovensko}}|color17=#2D3ED7|votes17=2786|seats17=0|sc17=New
|party18=Karma|color18=#00AAB9|votes18=2407|seats18=0|sc18=New
|party18=Karma|color18=#00AAB9|votes18=2407|seats18=0|sc18=New
|party19=Common Citizens of Slovakia|color19=#E09295|votes19=2401|seats19=0|sc19=New
|party19={{ill|Common Citizens of Slovakia|sk|SPOLOČNE OBČANIA SLOVENSKA}}|color19=#E09295|votes19=2401|seats19=0|sc19=New
|party20=HEART Patriots and Pensioners – Slovak National Unity|color20=#E2041D|votes20=2315|seats20=0|sc20=New
|party20=HEART Patriots and Pensioners – Slovak National Unity|color20=#E2041D|votes20=2315|seats20=0|sc20=New
|party21=Princíp|color21=#218D41|votes21=1817|seats21=0|sc21=New
|party21={{ill|Princíp|sk|PRINCÍP}}|color21=#218D41|votes21=1817|seats21=0|sc21=New
|party22=[[99% – Civic Voice]]|color22={{party color|99% – Civic Voice}}|votes22=1335|seats22=0|sc22=0
|party22=[[Spravodlivosť]]|votes22=1335|seats22=0|sc22=0
|party23=Slovak Revival Movement|color23=#AA1801|votes23=1332|seats23=0|sc23=0
|party23={{ill|Slovak Revival Movement|sk|Slovenské Hnutie Obrody}}|color23=#AA1801|votes23=1332|seats23=0|sc23=0
|party24=Patriotic Bloc|color24=#051A6D|votes24=1262|seats24=0|sc24=New
|party24={{ill|Patriotic Bloc|sk|Vlastenecký blok}}|color24=#051A6D|votes24=1262|seats24=0|sc24=New
|party25=[[Slovak Democratic and Christian Union – Democratic Party]]|votes25=771|seats25=0|sc25=New
|party25=[[Slovak Democratic and Christian Union – Democratic Party]]|votes25=771|seats25=0|sc25=New
|total_sc=0
|total_sc=0
Line 986: Line 961:


== Aftermath ==
== Aftermath ==
As analysts predicted, [[Peter Pellegrini]]'s Hlas-SD played the role of kingmaker in the "jockeying" that characterized the election's aftermath.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nicholson |first1=Tom |title=Coalition jockeying revs up in Slovakia after Fico's victory |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/slovakia-election-prime-minister-robert-fico-smer-hlas-patience-coalition/ |access-date=10 October 2023 |agency=Politico |date=1 October 2023 |archive-date=1 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231001153622/https://www.politico.eu/article/slovakia-election-prime-minister-robert-fico-smer-hlas-patience-coalition/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Two viable coalitions emerged: one consisting of Fico's Smer-SD, Hlas-SD, and [[Slovak National Party|SNS]]; the other of Hlas-SD, [[Progressive Slovakia|PS]], [[Christian Democratic Movement|KDH]], and [[Freedom and Solidarity|SaS]]. On 2 October 2023, two days after the election, president [[Zuzana Čaputová]] tasked [[Robert Fico]], as the leader of the now-largest parliamentary party, with forming a government within 14 days. On 3 October, she held "informal discussions" with PS's leader [[Michal Šimečka]] about the possibility of a PS-led coalition before meeting with Pellegrini and KDH's Milan Majerský. Following this meeting, [[Peter Pellegrini]] stated that his party was not ruling out either coalition.
As analysts predicted, [[Peter Pellegrini]]'s Hlas-SD played the role of kingmaker in the "jockeying" that characterized the election's aftermath.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nicholson |first1=Tom |title=Coalition jockeying revs up in Slovakia after Fico's victory |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/slovakia-election-prime-minister-robert-fico-smer-hlas-patience-coalition/ |access-date=10 October 2023 |agency=Politico |date=1 October 2023 |archive-date=1 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231001153622/https://www.politico.eu/article/slovakia-election-prime-minister-robert-fico-smer-hlas-patience-coalition/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Two viable coalitions emerged: one consisting of Fico's Smer-SD, Hlas-SD, and [[Slovak National Party|SNS]]; the other of Hlas-SD, [[Progressive Slovakia|PS]], [[Christian Democratic Movement|KDH]], and [[Freedom and Solidarity|SaS]]. On 2 October 2023, two days after the election, president [[Zuzana Čaputová]] tasked Fico, as the leader of the now-largest parliamentary party, with forming a government within 14 days. On 3 October, she held "informal discussions" with PS's leader [[Michal Šimečka]] about the possibility of a PS-led coalition before meeting with Pellegrini and KDH's Milan Majerský. Following this meeting, Pellegrini stated that his party was not ruling out either coalition.


According to SNS leader [[Andrej Danko]], the ensuing negotiations revolved around [[Peter Pellegrini]]'s future role. [[Robert Fico]] allegedly offered Pellegrini the role of Speaker of the [[National Council (Slovakia)|National Council]], while [[Michal Šimečka]] was willing to support [[Peter Pellegrini]] for Prime Minister in exchange for PS receiving the Ministry of the Interior.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bilás |first1=Zsuzsanna |title=Pellegrini nem kapkodja el a döntést, félidőnél jár a Smer kormányalakítási megbízása |url=https://napunk.dennikn.sk/hu/3614986/pellegrini-nem-kapkodja-el-a-dontest-felidonel-jar-a-smer-kormanyalakitasi-megbizasa/ |access-date=10 October 2023 |agency=Napunk |date=9 October 2023 |archive-date=12 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231012071414/https://napunk.dennikn.sk/hu/3614986/pellegrini-nem-kapkodja-el-a-dontest-felidonel-jar-a-smer-kormanyalakitasi-megbizasa/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On 10 October, Hlas-SD announced that it had rejected PS's offer.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ibos |first1=Emese |title=A Hlas elutasította a Progresszív Szlovákia ajánlatát. Már biztos, hogy Fico alakít kormányt |url=https://napunk.dennikn.sk/hu/3617552/a-hlas-elutasitotta-a-progressziv-szlovakia-ajanlatat-mar-biztos-hogy-fico-alakit-kormanyt/ |access-date=10 October 2023 |agency=Napunk |date=10 October 2023 |archive-date=11 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231011013045/https://napunk.dennikn.sk/hu/3617552/a-hlas-elutasitotta-a-progressziv-szlovakia-ajanlatat-mar-biztos-hogy-fico-alakit-kormanyt/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Slovakian kingmaker backs Fico coalition, vows foreign policy continuity |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/slovakias-hlas-party-prefers-forming-government-with-ex-pm-fico-2023-10-10/ |access-date=10 October 2023 |work=Reuters |date=10 October 2023 |archive-date=11 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231011012251/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/slovakias-hlas-party-prefers-forming-government-with-ex-pm-fico-2023-10-10/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On 11 October, Smer-SD, Hlas-SD, and SNS ratified their coalition agreement, according to which they were to receive 6, 7, and 3 ministerial portfolios, respectively.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nicholson |first1=Tom |last2=Hülsemann |first2=Laura |title=New government emerges in Slovakia, with Robert Fico as prime minister |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/slovakia-robert-fico-elections-as-prime-minister/ |access-date=11 October 2023 |agency=Politico |date=11 October 2023 |archive-date=11 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231011164104/https://www.politico.eu/article/slovakia-robert-fico-elections-as-prime-minister/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Hancock | first=Sam | title=Slovakia elections: Populist winner signs deal to form coalition government | website=BBC News | date=11 October 2023 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67085070 | access-date=25 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Hovet | first=Jason | title=Slovakia's populist ex-PM Fico seals coalition deal for new government | website=Reuters | date=16 October 2023 | url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/slovakias-smer-party-sign-agreement-forming-new-government-monday-2023-10-16/ | access-date=25 October 2023}}</ref>
According to SNS leader [[Andrej Danko]], the ensuing negotiations revolved around Pellegrini's future role. Fico allegedly offered Pellegrini the role of Speaker of the [[National Council (Slovakia)|National Council]], while Šimečka was willing to support Pellegrini for Prime Minister in exchange for PS receiving the Ministry of the Interior.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bilás |first1=Zsuzsanna |title=Pellegrini nem kapkodja el a döntést, félidőnél jár a Smer kormányalakítási megbízása |url=https://napunk.dennikn.sk/hu/3614986/pellegrini-nem-kapkodja-el-a-dontest-felidonel-jar-a-smer-kormanyalakitasi-megbizasa/ |access-date=10 October 2023 |agency=Napunk |date=9 October 2023 |archive-date=12 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231012071414/https://napunk.dennikn.sk/hu/3614986/pellegrini-nem-kapkodja-el-a-dontest-felidonel-jar-a-smer-kormanyalakitasi-megbizasa/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On 10 October, Hlas-SD announced that it had rejected PS's offer.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ibos |first1=Emese |title=A Hlas elutasította a Progresszív Szlovákia ajánlatát. Már biztos, hogy Fico alakít kormányt |url=https://napunk.dennikn.sk/hu/3617552/a-hlas-elutasitotta-a-progressziv-szlovakia-ajanlatat-mar-biztos-hogy-fico-alakit-kormanyt/ |access-date=10 October 2023 |agency=Napunk |date=10 October 2023 |archive-date=11 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231011013045/https://napunk.dennikn.sk/hu/3617552/a-hlas-elutasitotta-a-progressziv-szlovakia-ajanlatat-mar-biztos-hogy-fico-alakit-kormanyt/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Slovakian kingmaker backs Fico coalition, vows foreign policy continuity |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/slovakias-hlas-party-prefers-forming-government-with-ex-pm-fico-2023-10-10/ |access-date=10 October 2023 |work=Reuters |date=10 October 2023 |archive-date=11 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231011012251/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/slovakias-hlas-party-prefers-forming-government-with-ex-pm-fico-2023-10-10/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On 11 October, Smer-SD, Hlas-SD, and SNS ratified their coalition agreement, according to which they were to receive 6, 7, and 3 ministerial portfolios, respectively.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nicholson |first1=Tom |last2=Hülsemann |first2=Laura |title=New government emerges in Slovakia, with Robert Fico as prime minister |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/slovakia-robert-fico-elections-as-prime-minister/ |access-date=11 October 2023 |agency=Politico |date=11 October 2023 |archive-date=11 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231011164104/https://www.politico.eu/article/slovakia-robert-fico-elections-as-prime-minister/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Hancock | first=Sam | title=Slovakia elections: Populist winner signs deal to form coalition government | website=BBC News | date=11 October 2023 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67085070 | access-date=25 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Hovet | first=Jason | title=Slovakia's populist ex-PM Fico seals coalition deal for new government | website=Reuters | date=16 October 2023 | url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/slovakias-smer-party-sign-agreement-forming-new-government-monday-2023-10-16/ | access-date=25 October 2023}}</ref>


On 12 October, the [[Party of European Socialists]] (PES) suspended [[Direction – Social Democracy|Smer-SD]] and [[Voice – Social Democracy|Hlas-SD]] over their plans to enter into coalition with SNS, which the PES views as a "radical-right party."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wax |first1=Eddy |last2=Barigazzi |first2=Jacopo |last3=Jochecová |first3=Ketrin |date=12 October 2023 |title=European socialists suspend Robert Fico's Smer party and its ally Hlas |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/european-socialists-suspent-robert-fico-smer-hlas-party/ |url-status=live |access-date=12 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231012163715/https://www.politico.eu/article/european-socialists-suspent-robert-fico-smer-hlas-party/ |archive-date=12 October 2023}}</ref> One week later, on 19 October, [[Zuzana Čaputová]] announced she would not approve the coalition government's nominee for Minister of Environment, Rudolf Huliak (SNS), due to his avowed [[climate change denial]]ism. This delayed the swearing-in of the new government.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jochecová |first1=Ketrin |title=Slovakia's president refuses to back climate change denier as environment minister |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/slovakia-president-zuzana-caputova-robert-fico-rudolf-huliak-climate-change-denier-as-environment-minister/ |access-date=25 October 2023 |publisher=Politico |date=19 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Slovakia president rejects nomination of opponent of climate change policy as environment minister | website=AP News | date=19 October 2023 | url=https://apnews.com/article/slovakia-climate-skeptic-environment-minister-reject-7b955de8eb32c155bcad4595d1676b67 | access-date=25 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Slovakia president sets condition to appoint ex-PM Fico's cabinet | url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/slovakia-president-sets-condition-appoint-ex-pm-ficos-cabinet-2023-10-20/ | date=20 October 2023 | work=Reuters | access-date=25 October 2023}}</ref> After the coalition partners replaced Rudolf Huliak with [[Tomáš Taraba]] (SNS) as their nominee for the post, [[Zuzana Čaputová]] accepted the coalition's government. She swore in the [[Fico's Fourth Cabinet|new government]], with [[Robert Fico]] at its helm, on 25 October.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jochacová |first1=Ketrin |title=Robert Fico to become Slovakia's new prime minister |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/robert-fico-become-slovakia-new-prime-minister/ |access-date=25 October 2023 |publisher=Politico |date=24 October 2023}}</ref><ref name="SwearsInAPNews2023">{{cite web | title=Slovakia swears in a new Cabinet led by a populist ex-premier who opposes support for Ukraine | website=AP News | date=25 October 2023 | url=https://apnews.com/article/slovakia-new-government-fico-ukraine-bfe5f251d3a3b75e72ccee60f7c591b3 | access-date=25 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Henley | first=Jon | title=Slovakia's new prime minister Robert Fico to attend EU summit | website=the Guardian | date=25 October 2023 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/25/slovakia-prime-minister-robert-fico-attend-european-union-summit | access-date=25 October 2023}}</ref>
On 12 October, the [[Party of European Socialists]] (PES) suspended [[Direction – Social Democracy|Smer-SD]] and [[Voice – Social Democracy|Hlas-SD]] over their plans to enter into coalition with SNS, which the PES views as a "radical-right party."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wax |first1=Eddy |last2=Barigazzi |first2=Jacopo |last3=Jochecová |first3=Ketrin |date=12 October 2023 |title=European socialists suspend Robert Fico's Smer party and its ally Hlas |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/european-socialists-suspent-robert-fico-smer-hlas-party/ |url-status=live |access-date=12 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231012163715/https://www.politico.eu/article/european-socialists-suspent-robert-fico-smer-hlas-party/ |archive-date=12 October 2023}}</ref> One week later, on 19 October, Čaputová announced she would not approve the coalition government's nominee for Minister of Environment, Rudolf Huliak (SNS), due to his avowed [[climate change denial]]ism. This delayed the swearing-in of the new government.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jochecová |first1=Ketrin |title=Slovakia's president refuses to back climate change denier as environment minister |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/slovakia-president-zuzana-caputova-robert-fico-rudolf-huliak-climate-change-denier-as-environment-minister/ |access-date=25 October 2023 |publisher=Politico |date=19 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Slovakia president rejects nomination of opponent of climate change policy as environment minister | website=AP News | date=19 October 2023 | url=https://apnews.com/article/slovakia-climate-skeptic-environment-minister-reject-7b955de8eb32c155bcad4595d1676b67 | access-date=25 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Slovakia president sets condition to appoint ex-PM Fico's cabinet | url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/slovakia-president-sets-condition-appoint-ex-pm-ficos-cabinet-2023-10-20/ | date=20 October 2023 | work=Reuters | access-date=25 October 2023}}</ref> After the coalition partners replaced Huliak with [[Tomáš Taraba]] (also SNS) as their nominee for the post, Čaputová accepted the coalition's government. She swore in the [[Fico's Fourth Cabinet|new government]], with Fico at its helm, on 25 October.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jochacová |first1=Ketrin |title=Robert Fico to become Slovakia's new prime minister |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/robert-fico-become-slovakia-new-prime-minister/ |access-date=25 October 2023 |publisher=Politico |date=24 October 2023}}</ref><ref name="SwearsInAPNews2023">{{cite web | title=Slovakia swears in a new Cabinet led by a populist ex-premier who opposes support for Ukraine | website=AP News | date=25 October 2023 | url=https://apnews.com/article/slovakia-new-government-fico-ukraine-bfe5f251d3a3b75e72ccee60f7c591b3 | access-date=25 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Henley | first=Jon | title=Slovakia's new prime minister Robert Fico to attend EU summit | website=the Guardian | date=25 October 2023 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/25/slovakia-prime-minister-robert-fico-attend-european-union-summit | access-date=25 October 2023}}</ref>


==Notes==
==Notes==

Latest revision as of 04:36, 2 December 2024

2023 Slovak parliamentary election

← 2020 30 September 2023 (2023-09-30) Next →

All 150 seats in the National Council
76 seats needed for a majority
Opinion polls
Turnout68.5% (Increase 2.7pp)
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Robert Fico Michal Šimečka Peter Pellegrini
Party Smer PS Hlas
Last election Did not exist
Seats won 42 32 27
Seat change Increase 4 Increase 32 New party
Popular vote 681,017 533,136 436,415
Percentage 23.0% 18.0% 14.7%
Swing Increase 4.7 pp Increase 11.0 pp New party

  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
Leader Igor Matovič Milan Majerský Richard Sulík
Party OĽaNO KDH SaS
Alliance OĽaNO and Friends
Last election 64[a] 0
Seats won 16 12 11
Seat change Decrease 48 Increase 12 Decrease 2
Popular vote 264,137 202,515 187,645
Percentage 8.9% 6.8% 6.3%
Swing Decrease 21.9 pp Increase 2.1 pp Increase 0.1 pp

  Seventh party
 
Leader Andrej Danko
Party SNS
Last election 0
Seats won 10
Seat change Increase 10
Popular vote 166,995
Percentage 5.6%
Swing Increase 2.4 pp

Results of the election, showing vote strength by district

Prime Minister before election

Ľudovít Ódor (acting)
Independent

Elected Prime Minister

Robert Fico
Smer

Early parliamentary elections were held in the Slovak Republic on 30 September 2023 to elect members of the National Council. Regular elections were scheduled to be held in 2024. However, on 15 December 2022 the government lost a no-confidence vote.[1] Subsequently, the National Council amended the Constitution so that an early election could be held on 30 September 2023.[2] This was the first snap election in the country since 2012.

The left-wing populist and social conservative Direction – Social Democracy (Smer-SD), led by former Prime Minister Robert Fico, emerged as the largest party, winning 42 seats. The social-liberal and pro-European Progressive Slovakia (PS) came in second, with 32 seats. Former Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini's social-democratic Voice – Social Democracy (Hlas-SD), which split from Smer-SD in 2020, came in third with 27 seats. The conservative OĽaNO and its allies won 16 seats, less than a quarter of their total in the 2020 election. The Christian-democratic Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) and the right-wing populist Slovak National Party (SNS) re-entered the National Council after failing to achieve the vote threshold in 2020, winning twelve and ten seats respectively. The classical liberal Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) won eleven seats, tying the 2012 election as their worst result since the party's founding.[3]

As no single party or alliance reached the 76 seats needed for a majority, a coalition government was needed. A coalition government of Smer-SD, Hlas-SD, and SNS was formed. A new government with Robert Fico as prime minister was sworn in on 25 October 2023.[4]

Background

[edit]

Prior to the previous election, the Slovak Republic experienced a period of political turbulence, triggered by the murder of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová in 2018. The incident led to widespread protests and the resignation of then-Prime Minister Robert Fico.[5]

The election itself was won by the movement of Ordinary People and Independent Personalities (OĽaNO) led by Igor Matovič. The party emerged as the victor, gaining over a quarter of the popular vote, which translated to 53 seats in the 150-seat National Council. OĽaNO formed a coalition government with several other parties, ending the long-standing dominance of Direction – Social Democracy (SMER–SD).[6]

Electoral system

[edit]

The 150 members of the National Council were elected by proportional representation in a single nationwide constituency with an electoral threshold of 5% for single parties, 7% for coalitions of two or three parties, and 10% for coalitions of four or more parties. The election used the open list system, with seats allocated using largest remainder method with Hagenbach-Bischoff quota, a variant of the D'Hondt method.[7] Voters were able to cast up to four preferential votes for candidates of the selected party.[8]

All citizens of the Slovak Republic were allowed to vote except for citizens under 18 years of age, felons in prison convicted of serious offenses, and people declared ineligible to perform legal acts by court. Voters abroad on election day were allowed to vote by mail.[9] All citizens 21 years of age or older on the election day and are permanent residents of Slovakia, were allowed to run as candidates except for prisoners, convicted felons, and those declared ineligible to perform legal acts by court.[10] All participating parties must register 90 days before election day and pay a deposit of €17,000 which would be refunded to all parties gaining at least 3% of the votes.

Voters not present in their electoral district at the time of the elections were allowed to request a voting certificate (voličský preukaz), which allowed them to vote in any district regardless of their residency. Voters abroad on election day were allowed to request a postal vote. According to the Central Election Committee, approximately 72,000 citizens of the Slovak Republic living abroad had requested a postal vote for the election. The deadline for requests passed on 9 August 2023.

Political parties and lead candidates

[edit]
Parties on the ballot
# List Main ideology Lead candidate Previous election (2020) 2023
Votes (%) Seats Seats
3 Progressive Slovakia PS Liberalism Michal Šimečka
7.0%
0 / 150
1 / 150
5 Coalition OĽaNOChristian UnionFor the People OĽaNO–KÚ–ZĽ Conservatism Igor Matovič
30.8%
65 / 150
37 / 150
12 Freedom and Solidarity SaS Liberalism Richard Sulík
6.2%
13 / 150
19 / 150
15 Slovak National Party SNS Ultranationalism Andrej Danko
3.2%
0 / 150
3 / 150
16 Direction – Social Democracy Smer Social conservatism Robert Fico
18.3%
38 / 150
27 / 150
17 Voice – Social Democracy Hlas Social democracy Peter Pellegrini
11 / 150
23 Christian Democratic Movement KDH Christian democracy Milan Majerský
4.7%
0 / 150
0 / 150

Television debates

[edit]
2023 Slovak parliamentary election
Date Broadcasters  P  Present   S  Surrogate   NI  Not invited   A  Absent   I  Invited   N  No debate  
OĽANO Smer–SD SR ĽSNS PS D SaS KDH Aliancia MF SNS Modrí, Híd Hlas–SD REP Piráti PRINCÍP SOS KSS VB SPRAVODLIVOSŤ SHO MySlovensko SRDCE SDKÚ-DS KARMA
3 Sep 2023[11] JOJ 24
(150th candidates)
P
Matovič
P
Bekmatov
P
Klus
NI A
Kusá
NI P
Hlina
P
F. Majerský
NI NI P
Huliak
NI A
L. Pellegrini
P
Mazurek
NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI
19 Sep 2023[12] Jednotka/RS NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI S
Kaliaš
S
Smolka
NI P
Stanovič
NI NI P
Panenka
NI NI P
Szaboová
20 Sep 2023[12] TV JOJ/JOJ 24 P
Matovič
NI P
Kollár
NI NI NI NI P
Majerský
NI NI P
Danko
NI NI P
Uhrík
NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI
20 Sep 2023[12] Jednotka/RS NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI P
Šubová
NI NI P
Hrdlička
NI P
Chlebo
P
Švec
NI NI P
Rybárik
NI
21 Sep 2023[12] TV JOJ/JOJ 24 NI P
Fico
NI NI P
Šimečka
NI P
Sulík
NI NI NI NI NI P
Pellegrini
NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI
21 Sep 2023[12] Jednotka/RS NI NI NI S
Schlosár
NI NI NI NI NI S
Rajtár
NI S
Schwarzbacher
NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI S
Tokár
NI NI
22 Sep 2023[12][13] TV Markíza NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI S
Kaliaš
P
Hanuliak
NI P
Stanovič
P
Chlebo
P
Švec
NI NI NI P
Szaboová
23 Sep 2023[12][14] TV Markíza NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI P
Šubová
NI NI P
Hrdlička
NI NI NI P
Panenka
S
Kováč
P
Rybárik
NI
24 Sep 2023[12][15] TV Markíza NI NI NI S
Kotleba
NI S
Letanovská
NI NI P
Forró
P
Šimon
NI P
Dzurinda
NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI
25 Sep 2023[12][16] Jednotka/RS P
Jurinová
NI NI NI NI S
Naď
NI NI S
Gyimesi
NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI
25 Sep 2023[12][17] TA3 S
Remišová
NI S
Krajniak
NI NI NI NI P
Majerský
P
Forró
NI P
Danko
NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI
25 Sep 2023[12][18] TV Markíza P
Matovič
A
Fico
P
Kollár
NI P
Šimečka
NI P
Sulík
P
Majerský
NI NI P
Danko
NI S
Tomáš
P
Uhrík
NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI
26 Sep 2023[12]
(cancelled)[19]
TV Markíza N
Matovič
N
Fico
NI NI N
Šimečka
NI NI NI NI NI NI NI N
Pellegrini
NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI
26 Sep 2023[12][20] Jednotka/RS NI NI S
Pčolinský
NI NI NI S
Gröhling
S
Hajko
NI NI P
Danko
NI NI S
Mazurek
NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI
26 Sep 2023[12][21] TA3 NI P
Fico
NI NI P
Šimečka
NI P
Sulík
NI NI NI NI NI P
Pellegrini
P
Uhrík
NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI
27 Sep 2023[12] Jednotka/RS NI P
Fico
NI NI P
Šimečka
NI NI NI NI NI NI NI P
Pellegrini
NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI

Opinion polls

[edit]
A LOESS graph displaying the polls for the 2023 Slovak parliamentary election.

Issues and developments

[edit]

2023 election issues included high inflation, Slovakia's position on the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the related global energy crisis, COVID-19, internal fights within the previous government, corruption scandals and immigration;[22][23] questions of rights and values (particularly LGBTQ+ issues) were covered during the campaign by Al Jazeera English, BBC[23][24] and Pravda.[25]

By the week of the election, popularity polls indicated that the two strongest parties were the Progressive Slovakia (led by pro-European Michal Šimečka, a member of the European Parliament (EP) since 2019, and EP Vice-President since 2022, who has committed to maintaining support for Ukraine) and Smer-SD (headed by Robert Fico, three-time former prime minister, who has committed to ending Slovakia's support for Ukraine); however, neither appeared to be commanding a majority, and the BBC projected neither would top 20% of the vote,[24] so each would have to attempt to build a coalition with other parties to achieve the majority needed to rule.[22][23][24] Consequently, as many as 10 parties could wind up in the government.[24]

The third-largest party, which tipped the balance in favor of Robert Fico, is Hlas–SD (Voice), the moderate-left party of Peter Pellegrini (formerly of Smer-SD, and former prime minister, 2018–20).

Results

[edit]
Results of the election, showing vote strength by commune.
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Direction – Social Democracy681,01722.9542+4
Progressive Slovakia533,13617.9632+32
Voice – Social Democracy436,41514.7027New
OĽaNO and Friends264,1378.9016–48
Christian Democratic Movement202,5156.8212+12
Freedom and Solidarity187,6456.3211–2
Slovak National Party166,9955.6310+10
Republic141,0994.750New
Alliance130,1834.3900
Democrats87,0062.9300
We Are Family65,6732.210–17
People's Party Our Slovakia25,0030.840–17
Communist Party of Slovakia9,8670.330New
Pirate Party – Slovakia9,3580.320New
Modrí, Most–Híd7,9350.270New
Hungarian Forum3,4860.120New
MySlovensko [sk]2,7860.090New
Karma2,4070.080New
Common Citizens of Slovakia [sk]2,4010.080New
HEART Patriots and Pensioners – Slovak National Unity2,3150.080New
Princíp [sk]1,8170.060New
Spravodlivosť1,3350.0400
Slovak Revival Movement [sk]1,3320.0400
Patriotic Bloc [sk]1,2620.040New
Slovak Democratic and Christian Union – Democratic Party7710.030New
Total2,967,896100.001500
Valid votes2,967,89698.83
Invalid/blank votes35,0521.17
Total votes3,002,948100.00
Registered voters/turnout4,388,87268.42
Source: Results

Results by region

[edit]
Region Smer–SD PS Hlas–SD OĽaNO
and Friends
KDH SaS SNS Republic Alliance Democrats We Are
Family
People's Party
Our Slovakia
KSS Other parties
Bratislava Region 18.54 31.00 10.36 6.17 4.90 12.50 4.31 3.14 0.91 4.43 1.78 0.57 0.20 1.08
Trnava Region 22.01 17.07 12.11 9.40 4.56 5.36 4.43 4.38 12.69 2.92 2.19 0.81 0.40 1.56
Trenčín Region 29.47 16.63 16.40 5.93 5.44 5.63 7.28 5.45 0.03 2.84 2.22 1.06 0.46 1.03
Nitra Region 25.31 14.42 14.40 7.47 4.06 4.80 4.51 4.46 13.91 2.19 2.01 0.80 0.26 1.24
Žilina Region 25.79 15.51 16.04 6.90 9.38 5.56 8.11 5.61 0.02 2.80 2.02 0.96 0.34 0.89
Banská Bystrica Region 22.89 14.96 19.76 7.41 4.29 5.14 6.53 5.18 5.17 2.40 2.73 1.33 0.43 1.67
Prešov Region 22.04 10.83 16.16 14.78 14.07 4.10 5.73 5.22 0.07 2.65 2.36 0.63 0.31 0.98
Košice Region 21.10 14.68 15.08 13.46 6.80 5.74 4.38 4.97 5.44 2.98 2.75 0.76 0.33 1.41
Foreign 6.10 61.70 2.46 3.81 3.31 10.80 3.79 3.20 0.47 2.50 0.55 0.38 0.04 0.76
Total 22.94 17.96 14.70 8.89 6.82 6.32 5.62 4.75 4.38 2.93 2.21 0.84 0.33 1.16

Aftermath

[edit]

As analysts predicted, Peter Pellegrini's Hlas-SD played the role of kingmaker in the "jockeying" that characterized the election's aftermath.[26] Two viable coalitions emerged: one consisting of Fico's Smer-SD, Hlas-SD, and SNS; the other of Hlas-SD, PS, KDH, and SaS. On 2 October 2023, two days after the election, president Zuzana Čaputová tasked Fico, as the leader of the now-largest parliamentary party, with forming a government within 14 days. On 3 October, she held "informal discussions" with PS's leader Michal Šimečka about the possibility of a PS-led coalition before meeting with Pellegrini and KDH's Milan Majerský. Following this meeting, Pellegrini stated that his party was not ruling out either coalition.

According to SNS leader Andrej Danko, the ensuing negotiations revolved around Pellegrini's future role. Fico allegedly offered Pellegrini the role of Speaker of the National Council, while Šimečka was willing to support Pellegrini for Prime Minister in exchange for PS receiving the Ministry of the Interior.[27] On 10 October, Hlas-SD announced that it had rejected PS's offer.[28][29] On 11 October, Smer-SD, Hlas-SD, and SNS ratified their coalition agreement, according to which they were to receive 6, 7, and 3 ministerial portfolios, respectively.[30][31][32]

On 12 October, the Party of European Socialists (PES) suspended Smer-SD and Hlas-SD over their plans to enter into coalition with SNS, which the PES views as a "radical-right party."[33] One week later, on 19 October, Čaputová announced she would not approve the coalition government's nominee for Minister of Environment, Rudolf Huliak (SNS), due to his avowed climate change denialism. This delayed the swearing-in of the new government.[34][35][36] After the coalition partners replaced Huliak with Tomáš Taraba (also SNS) as their nominee for the post, Čaputová accepted the coalition's government. She swore in the new government, with Fico at its helm, on 25 October.[37][4][38]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Including For the People - 12; not including Change from Below - 1

References

[edit]
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  6. ^ "Výsledky parlamentných volieb 2020". SME (in Slovak). 29 February 2020. Archived from the original on 29 February 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  7. ^ Slovak law 180/2014 § 68
  8. ^ "Slovakia Národná rada (National Council) Electoral System". Inter-Parliamentary Union. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
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  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "V televíziách sa začínajú hlavné predvolebné televízne diskusie". TASR (in Slovak). 20 September 2023. Archived from the original on 21 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  13. ^ "Krava do každej rodiny aj štát riadený umelou inteligenciou. Diskusný maratón na TV Markíza odštartoval prvou predvolebnou debatou". TV Markíza (in Slovak). 22 September 2023. Archived from the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
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  18. ^ "Sledujte NAŽIVO: Lídri najsilnejších politických strán prezradili, o ktoré ministerstvá by mali po voľbách záujem". TV Markíza (in Slovak). 25 September 2023. Archived from the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  19. ^ "Markíza zrušila finálnu debatu pre bojkot Smeru a neúčasť Hlasu a PS, OĽaNO to považuje za "mafiánske praktiky"". Denník N (in Slovak). 22 September 2023. Archived from the original on 22 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  20. ^ "Miesto ideológií v školstve, popieranie holokaustu či zavádzanie bankového odvodu. Aj o tom bola piata predvolebná diskusia RTVS". Radio and Television of Slovakia (in Slovak). 26 September 2023. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
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  28. ^ Ibos, Emese (10 October 2023). "A Hlas elutasította a Progresszív Szlovákia ajánlatát. Már biztos, hogy Fico alakít kormányt". Napunk. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
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  32. ^ Hovet, Jason (16 October 2023). "Slovakia's populist ex-PM Fico seals coalition deal for new government". Reuters. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
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