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The article describes the party leader as "pro-Russian" and "pro-Kremlin", not the entire party. A better source is needed to ascribe russophilia as an ideology of the entire party.
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| [[Left-wing populism]]<ref>{{cite web |date=2022-04-26 |title=Report on Panel #1 / Mapping European Populism: Populist Authoritarian Tendencies in Central and Eastern Europe, and Challenges to the EU – ECPS |url=https://www.populismstudies.org/report-on-panel-1-mapping-european-populism-populist-authoritarian-tendencies-in-central-and-eastern-europe-and-challenges-to-the-eu/ |access-date=2022-12-25 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |date=August 2015 |title=The Case of Smer Party in Slovakia |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/298765949 |journal=ECPR General Conference}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=2021-06-30 |title=Direction – Slovak Social Democracy party (Smer-SD) |url=https://www.cleanenergywire.org/experts/direction-slovak-social-democracy-party-smer-sd |access-date=2022-12-25 |website=Clean Energy Wire}}</ref>
| [[Left-wing populism]]<ref>{{cite web |date=2022-04-26 |title=Report on Panel #1 / Mapping European Populism: Populist Authoritarian Tendencies in Central and Eastern Europe, and Challenges to the EU – ECPS |url=https://www.populismstudies.org/report-on-panel-1-mapping-european-populism-populist-authoritarian-tendencies-in-central-and-eastern-europe-and-challenges-to-the-eu/ |access-date=2022-12-25 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |date=August 2015 |title=The Case of Smer Party in Slovakia |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/298765949 |journal=ECPR General Conference}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=2021-06-30 |title=Direction – Slovak Social Democracy party (Smer-SD) |url=https://www.cleanenergywire.org/experts/direction-slovak-social-democracy-party-smer-sd |access-date=2022-12-25 |website=Clean Energy Wire}}</ref>
| [[Social conservatism]]<ref name="LaBruyère2010">{{cite web |author= |date= 11 May 2021|title=Fico hovorí o LGBTI ľuďoch čoraz vulgárnejšie, jeho štátna tajomníčka pritom podporila Pride |url=https://dennikn.sk/2385528/fico-hovori-o-lgbti-ludoch-coraz-vulgarnejsie-jeho-statna-tajomnicka-pritom-podporila-pride/ |access-date= |publisher=[[Denník N]] |language=sk}}</ref><ref name="LaBruyère20102">{{cite web |author= |date= 16 May 2022|title=Kto získa anti-cenu Homofób roka? Výrokmi sa "blysli" Fico, Matovič a v päťke nominovaných je aj Haľko |url=https://sita.sk/kto-ziska-anti-cenu-homofob-roka-vyrokmi-sa-blysli-fico-matovic-a-nominovany-je-aj-halko/ |access-date= |publisher=SITA |language=sk}}</ref>
| [[Social conservatism]]<ref name="LaBruyère2010">{{cite web |author= |date= 11 May 2021|title=Fico hovorí o LGBTI ľuďoch čoraz vulgárnejšie, jeho štátna tajomníčka pritom podporila Pride |url=https://dennikn.sk/2385528/fico-hovori-o-lgbti-ludoch-coraz-vulgarnejsie-jeho-statna-tajomnicka-pritom-podporila-pride/ |access-date= |publisher=[[Denník N]] |language=sk}}</ref><ref name="LaBruyère20102">{{cite web |author= |date= 16 May 2022|title=Kto získa anti-cenu Homofób roka? Výrokmi sa "blysli" Fico, Matovič a v päťke nominovaných je aj Haľko |url=https://sita.sk/kto-ziska-anti-cenu-homofob-roka-vyrokmi-sa-blysli-fico-matovic-a-nominovany-je-aj-halko/ |access-date= |publisher=SITA |language=sk}}</ref>
| [[Russophilia]]<ref name="CNN0210">{{cite web |author= |date= October 2023|title=Pro-Russian politician wins Slovakia's parliamentary election |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/01/world/slovakia-election-pro-russia-robert-fico-win-intl-hnk/index.html#:~:text=A%20party%20headed%20by%20a,and%20EU%20unity%20on%20Ukraine. |access-date= |publisher=CNN |language=en}}</ref>
}}
}}
| position = {{nowrap|[[Centre-left politics|Centre-left]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Henley |first=Jon |date=2 October 2023 |title=Who is Robert Fico, the pro-Russian leader poised to head Slovakia's coalition government? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/02/who-is-robert-fico-the-pro-russian-leader-poised-to-head-slovakias-coalition-government |work=The Guardian |access-date=19 October 2023}}</ref> to [[Left-wing politics|left-wing]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cameron |first1=Rob |last2=Goksedef |first2=Ece |date=1 October 2023 |title=Slovakia elections: Populist party wins vote but needs allies for coalition |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66972984 |work=BBC News |access-date=19 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Schmitz |first=Rob |date=2 October 2023 |title=Worry and concern follow pro-Kremlin candidate's victory in Slovakia election |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/10/02/1202978126/slovakia-election-fico-ukraine-russia |work=NPR |location=Berlin |access-date=19 October 2023}}</ref>}}
| position = {{nowrap|[[Centre-left politics|Centre-left]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Henley |first=Jon |date=2 October 2023 |title=Who is Robert Fico, the pro-Russian leader poised to head Slovakia's coalition government? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/02/who-is-robert-fico-the-pro-russian-leader-poised-to-head-slovakias-coalition-government |work=The Guardian |access-date=19 October 2023}}</ref> to [[Left-wing politics|left-wing]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cameron |first1=Rob |last2=Goksedef |first2=Ece |date=1 October 2023 |title=Slovakia elections: Populist party wins vote but needs allies for coalition |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66972984 |work=BBC News |access-date=19 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Schmitz |first=Rob |date=2 October 2023 |title=Worry and concern follow pro-Kremlin candidate's victory in Slovakia election |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/10/02/1202978126/slovakia-election-fico-ukraine-russia |work=NPR |location=Berlin |access-date=19 October 2023}}</ref>}}

Revision as of 12:24, 7 April 2024

Direction – Social Democracy
Smer – sociálna demokracia
AbbreviationSmer
LeaderRobert Fico
Deputy Leaders
See list
General SecretaryMarián Saloň
FounderRobert Fico
Founded8 November 1999 (1999-11-08)
Split fromParty of the Democratic Left
HeadquartersSúmračná 3263/25, 82102 Bratislava
Youth wingYoung Social Democrats
Membership (2022)Increase 13,095[1]
Ideology
Political positionCentre-left[10] to left-wing[11][12]
European affiliationParty of European Socialists (suspended)[13]
European Parliament groupNon-Inscrits[14]
International affiliation
Colours
  •   Red
  •   Navy blue
Slogan"Stability, order and social security" (2023)[15]
National Council
42 / 150
European Parliament
2 / 14
Regional governors[16]
1 / 8
Regional deputies[a][16]
50 / 419
Mayors[a][16]
516 / 2,904
Local councillors[a][16]
2,364 / 20,462
Website
strana-smer.sk

Direction – Social Democracy (Template:Lang-sk, Smer–SD), also commonly referred to as Smer, is a left-wing nationalist political party in Slovakia led by the incumbent prime minister Robert Fico.[17]

Founded by Fico in 1999 as a split from the post-communist Party of the Democratic Left, Smer initially defined itself as the Third Way party.[18] It adopted the epithet Social Democracy after merging with several minor center-left parties in 2005.[19] It dominated Slovak politics from 2006 to 2020, leading two coalition governments (2006–2010, 2016–2020) and one single-party government (2012–2016). During its 12 years in charge it continued the European integration of Slovakia, lifted some economic-liberal reforms of the previous center-right governments and introduced various social welfare measures.[20] Smer-led governments have been associated with numerous political corruption scandals, and have been accused by opponents to have resulted in a deterioration of the rule of law in Slovakia.[21][22][23][24][25]

Since the 2020 parliamentary election – Smer's return to the opposition, Slovak authorities have been investigating a number of corruption-related crimes involving multiple Smer politicians and individuals reportedly linked to the party, with a total of 42 of them being convicted.[26][27][28][29][30] At the party congress in July 2020, following a major internal split (which resulted in the founding of the Hlas party), Fico announced a shift to "the rustic social democracy that perceives the specifics of Slovak reality".[31][32] Post-2020 Smer holds stances that have been described as nationalist, populist and Russophilic.[33][34][35][36][37][38][39]

In 2023, Smer won the parliamentary election with 23% of the vote and 42 seats in the National Council and subsequently formed the Fourth cabinet of Robert Fico.[40]

History

Foundation and early years (1999–2006)

Originally named Direction (Template:Lang-sk), the party was founded on 8 November 1999, emerging as a breakaway from the post-Communist Party of the Democratic Left (SDĽ), the successor of the original Communist Party of Slovakia and the governing party from 1998 to 2002. Under Robert Fico, at the time one of the most popular politicians in the country, it quickly became one of the most popular parties in Slovakia, while the SDĽ experienced a constant decrease within popularity. In the 2002 Slovak parliamentary election, its first formal election period, it became the third-largest party in the National Council of the Slovak Republic, with 25 of 150 seats. In 2003, it changed its formal name to Direction (Third Way) (Template:Lang-sk)[41] and Party of Civic Understanding merged into the party.

In 2005, the party absorbed the SDĽ and the Social Democratic Alternative, a small social democratic party that split from the original SDĽ somewhat later than Direction did, in addition to the Social Democratic Party of Slovakia. Founded in 1990, the party became known for the leadership of Alexander Dubček, and Direction adopted the epithet Social Democracy. Following the party's victory in 2006, Smer entered into a coalition with the nationalist Slovak National Party (SNS) and was readmitted into the Party of European Socialists (PES) in 2008. It later formed another coalition with the SNS in 2016.

Government (2006–2010)

See also: Fico's First Cabinet

In the 2006 Slovak parliamentary election, the party won 29.1% of the popular vote and 50 of 150 seats. Following that election, Smer formed a coalition government with the People's Party – Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) and the SNS,[42] an extremist nationalist party.[43][26][44]

On 12 October 2006, the party was temporarily suspended from membership in the PES.[45] The resolution to suspend the party referred specifically to the PES Declaration "For a modern, pluralist and tolerant Europe", adopted in Berlin by the PES congress in 2001, which states that "all PES parties adhere to the following principles ... [and] to refrain from any form of political alliance or co-operation at all levels with any political party which incites or attempts to stir up racial or ethnic prejudices and racial hatred." In The Slovak Spectator, the PES chairman Poul Nyrup Rasmussen commented: "Most of our members stood solidly behind our values, according to which forming a coalition with the extreme right is unacceptable."[46] The party was readmitted on 14 February 2008 after its chairman Fico and SNS leader Jan Slota pledged in a letter to respect European values, human rights, and all ethnic minorities.[47]

Opposition (2010–2012)

Party logo, 2005–2019

Although the party won the most votes in the 2010 Slovak parliamentary election, with a lead of 20% over the second-place Slovak Democratic and Christian Union – Democratic Party (SDKÚ),[48] they had not been able to form a government because of losses sustained by their coalition partners. Their result, 34.8%, gave them 62 of 150 seats in the National Council, but the HZDS failed to cross the 5% threshold, losing all their seats, and the SNS was reduced to nine seats. The four opposition centre-right parties (the Christian Democratic Movement, Freedom and Solidarity, Bridge, and SDKÚ) were able to form a new government.[49]

Government (2012–2020)

Party logo, 2019–2021

In the 2012 Slovak parliamentary election, Smer won 44.4% of the votes and became the largest party in the National Council, with an absolute majority of 83 seats (out of 150).[50] Fico's Second Cabinet was the first single-party government in Slovakia since 1993. In the 2014 European Parliament election in Slovakia, Smer came in first place nationally, receiving 24.09% of the vote and electing four Members of the European Parliament.[51]

Despite suffering a significant loss in support as a result of strikes by teachers and nurses earlier in the year,[52] Smer won the 5 March 2016 parliamentary election with 28.3% of the vote and 49 of 150 seats, and subsequently formed Fico's Third Cabinet in a coalition government with Bridge, Network, and the Slovak National Party. Prime Minister Fico resigned in the wake of the political crisis following the murder of Ján Kuciak and was replaced by Peter Pellegrini, with the same majority. However, Fico remained leader of Smer.[citation needed]

Opposition (2020–2023)

The party managed to score 18.29% in the 2020 Slovak parliamentary election, which was 2 to 3 percent more than the latest polls showed, but it was still a decrease of 10% compared to previous elections. The party occupied 38 seats in parliament. Pellegrini, the chairman of the Fico parliamentary group, became the vice-chairman of the National Council for the Opposition on the basis of post-election negotiations.[citation needed] In May 2020, two deputies for Smer (Ján Podmanický and Marián Kéry) founded a value policy platform with deputies from KDŽP, elected as a candidate of the Kotlebists – People's Party Our Slovakia. Because of this, Pellegrini sharply criticized them, while Fico defended Podmanický. In May 2020, Podmanický also left the Smer parliamentary group after criticism from his own ranks.[citation needed]

As early as April 2020, party vice-chairman Pellegrini announced his ambition to run for party chairman as Smer's most popular politician, winning 170,000 more votes than the chairman. Fico reacted strongly, saying that he did not intend to resign and wanted to remain at the head of the party, while Pellegrini gradually began to tighten his criticism of Fico and the party's situation. Pellegrini criticized the fact that the party's presidency had not met since the election and the date of the parliament was unknown. Pellegrini demanded that the assembly be held as soon as possible, while Fico insisted that the nomination assembly take place only at a ceremonial assembly in December 2020.[citation needed]

At a June 2020 press conference in Banská Bystrica, Pellegrini announced that he would resign as Vice-Chairman of Smer and leave the party in the near future. He also outlined the establishment of a new party, Voice – Social Democracy (Hlas), which he said should be social democratic, but refuse to be liberal. Around that time, Fico had already offered Pellegrini the position of party chairman, provided that he maintained his influence in the party, an offer which was rejected by Pellegrini. In the first FOCUS survey, 21.4% of respondents said they would vote for the new Pellegrini party, while those saying they would vote for the original Smer remained at 9.6%. At a press conference one week following the announcement of Pellegrini's departure, another 10 deputies announced they would leave the party, including Vice-Presidents Peter Žiga and Richard Raši, Bureau member Denisa Saková and long-standing deputies and party members. At the same time, together with Pellegrini, they announced the creation of a new social-democratic party at the press conference, which they would join. Political scientist Grigory Mesezhnikov postulated that after the departure of the Pellegrini group, the Smer could move further to the left into the spectrum of the radical to communist left.[citation needed]

Government (2023–present)

As Smer won the parliamentary election held on 30 September 2023 with 23% of the vote and 42 seats in the National Council, Robert Fico, the party's leader was given a mandate to form a government.[53] The Fourth cabinet of Robert Fico comprising Smer, Voice – Social Democracy (Hlas) and the Slovak National Party (SNS) sworn in on 25 October 2023.

Foreign policy

Fico has promised to cut all aid to Ukraine as a result of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine, and has promised to block Ukrainian accession to NATO should the subject be broached under his tenure. Fico has also stated that the Ukrainian government is run by neo-Nazis.[54]

Meeting of the Slovak delegation with the European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders, 27 November 2023

In December 2023, the Fourth Cabinet of Robert Fico introduced an amendment to the Criminal Code. The government proposed that the bill be debated in a fast-track legislative procedure, arguing that the status quo leads to human rights violations. The amendment included scrapping the Special Prosecutor's Office dealing with high-level corruption and lowering penalties for financial crimes. The fast-track legislative procedure faced widespread criticism from the parliamentary opposition, President Zuzana Čaputová, the European Commission and non-governmental organizations, resulting in a weeks-long opposition parliamentary obstruction and a series of demonstrations.[55]

Critics have raised questions about potential conflicts of interest within the government coalition. They have noted that various individuals with perceived affiliations to the government, alongside accused members of the coalition parties, including the bill's rapporteur, MP Tibor Gašpar of Smer, could be directly affected by the proposed lowering of penalties. Additionally, their cases are overseen by the Special Prosecutor's Office, which the amendment would abolish. The coalition government introduced the amendment, citing the need to shift towards a rehabilitative approach to justice, update the criminal code, and align with European Union standards. Proponent of the law, the Ministry of Justice led by Boris Susko of Smer published the brochure 'Overview of Violations of the Principles of the Rule of Law in the Years 2020–2023.'[56]

The amendment was finally approved by the National Council on 8 February 2024. The final proposal also included a reduction of the statute of limitations in rape cases from 20 to 10 years, which again caused widespread criticism from the parliamentary opposition, President Zuzana Čaputová and non-governmental organizations. The government defended the reduction of the limitation period by motivating victims to report rape earlier, possibly allowing a return to the 20-year limitation period in the next amendment after the approval of the law.[57]

President Zuzana Čaputová signed the law on 16 February, verbally clearly expressing her opposition to its content..The President argued that by signing the law instead of vetoing it, she wants to create enough time for the Constitutional Court to decide on her submission challenging the constitutionality of the law. As of February 2024, the Constitutional Court is expected to make its decision following the publication of the law in the collection of laws by the Ministry of Justice.[58]

Ideology and policies

Economic policy

Smer advocates economically left-wing policies.[citation needed]

Foreign policy

Smer holds Russophilic and Eurosceptic stances on foreign policy; however, it claims to support Slovakia's membership in the European Union and NATO. The party expresses strong anti-Western, especially anti-American sentiment, often spreading Russian propaganda narratives.[59][60][61]

Regarding the Russo-Ukrainian War, Smer calls for an end to military aid to Ukraine as well as to sanctions against Russia. It interprets the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a proxy war between the US and Russia, with the latter "dealing with threats to its national interests". The party declares that the conflict was provoked in 2014 by "the extermination of citizens of Russian nationality by Ukrainian fascists".[62][63][64]

In its foreign policy manifesto, Smer calls for understanding with countries "with a form of government other than parliamentary democracy", referring to China and Vietnam.[65] During his premiership, party's leader Robert Fico praised the political systems of both countries, describing the Slovak one as clumsy and uncompetitive in comparison.[66] In 2007, Fico made an official state visit to the then leader of Libya, Muammar Gaddafi, "discussing the fight against world imperialism" (citing Fico).[67]

Social policy

The party holds strongly conservative views on social issues with a record of anti-LGBT,[68][69] anti-Romani,[70][71] Islamophobic,[72][73] anti-immigration and sexist statements. It proclaims its strong opposition to liberalism and progressivism, advocating traditional family values and running for the patriotic electorate.[74][75] Party's leading politicians spread disinformations and conspiracy theories, including antisemitic George Soros conspiracy theories.[76][77]

Regarding LGBT rights, it calls for a constitutional ban on same-sex civil unions, marriages as well as adoptions. It opposes the allocation of state subsidies to LGBT rights organizations.[71] In 2022, 21 out of 27 Smer deputies in the National Council voted for a bill prohibiting the display of the rainbow flags on public buildings while the remaining 6 were absent.[78][79]

During the 2015 European migrant crisis, party's leader Robert Fico stated that the government monitors every single Muslim who is on the territory of the Slovak Republic.[80] In 2016, Fico declared that Islam has no place in Slovakia. He challenged multiculturalism and called for the preservation of the country's traditions and identity.[81] In 2021, Fico called on political scientist Jozef Lenč of the Muslim faith, commenting on Smer, not to work as a political scientist in a Christian country.[82]

In 2019, Fico expressed his sympathy for the Member of the National Council of the neo-Nazi People's Party Our Slovakia Milan Mazurek, who was convicted of the intentional crime of defaming a nation, race or belief.[83] In 2022, Smer criticized the proposal for a comprehensive compensatory social benefit for people in need, interpreting it as buying Roma votes before local and regional elections.[84] Fico's rhetoric towards the Romani people in Slovakia is considered hostile, stating that the Romani people in Slovakia drain the social system.[85][86]

In 2023, Fico called for the approval of a law concerning NGOs, according to which non-governmental organizations with foreign funding should be labeled as foreign agents.[87]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the party opposed vaccinations and restrictive measures.[88][89]

It opposed the ratification of the Istanbul Convention in Slovakia.[90]

Communist nostalgia

Following a major internal split in June 2020 (which resulted in the founding of the Hlas party), the party began to radicalize its rhetoric, including expressing nostalgia for the prior communist state.

The party politicians utilize slogans reminiscent of the communist era, such as "Loiterers from cafes, to fields and factories"[1] and the greeting "Greetings, comrades! Honor work!"[2]

In January 2024, Prime Minister and party chairman Robert Fico and Deputy Speaker of the National Council and party vice-chairman Ľuboš Blaha visited the grave of Gustav Husák, the last communist president of the Czechoslovakia, to pay their respects. Husák, a highly controversial figure, was one of the leading figures of the Slovak National Uprising during the Second World War, imprisoned as a bourgeois nationalist in the 1950s to emerge as a key figure in the normalization process in Czechoslovakia – a return to strict Communist Party control and the suppression of political liberalization following the Warsaw Pact invasion in 1968.[3]

In November 2023, Blaha replaced a portrait of President Zuzana Čaputová in his parliamentary office with a portrait of Argentine Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara, hanging the Flag of Europe.[4]

In his speech at the Smer-organized commemoration of the anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising in August 2023, Blaha addressed the crowd as "comrades" and stated, "The basic historical truth is that war and fascism have always come from the West and freedom and peace from the East."[5]

In December 2019, Blaha shared a photograph on Facebook depicting himself alongside Fico, with the former holding a red star bearing a hammer and sickle motif. The star was a birthday gift presented to Blaha by Fico.[6]

Alt-right ties

The party leading politicians, including Prime Minister and party chair Robert Fico, frequently make appearances on various media outlets known for disseminating disinformation, aligning with alt-right ideologies, and promoting Russian propaganda.

Among these outlets are Hlavné Správy (Main News) and Infovojna (Infowar), both widely recognized as prominent sources of disinformation and Russian propaganda in Slovakia.[7][8][9] In February 2023, an individual who contributed to Hlavné Správy confessed to espionage for Russia and was subsequently convicted.[10] Despite Hlavné Správy and Infovojna having been temporarily suspended by the National Security Authority in accordance with the Cyber Security Act following the onset of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 due to identified harmful activity[11], the leaders continue to utilize these platforms for communication after the suspension was lifted.[12][13] In his appearance on Infovojna in December 2023, Fico expressed gratitude towards "alternative media" for "correcting the distortions we have in the media market."[14]

The party leading politicians also frequently appear in interviews with Daniel Bombic, a prominent Slovak alt-right figure residing in London, who is subject to three international arrest warrants for crimes related to extremism, cyberbullying, and doxing.[15][16][17] Bombic has gained notoriety for promoting conspiracy theories related to COVID-19, The Great Replacement, New World Order and International Jewish conspiracy. During the global pandemic, Bombic engaged in inciting attacks and spreading hate speech targeting doctors, hygienists, and other public figures.[18][19] In justifying his presence on Bombic's channels in March 2024, MP Tibor Gašpar of Smer argued that Bombic might be intentionally subjected to unjust accusations.[20] Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Robert Kaliňák, defended Bombic by stating: "For someone to say that I want a future for my white children, is that supposed to be a racist crime? Are they crazy?"[21]

In the 2024 European Parliament elections, Smer included Judita Laššáková, a prominent Slovak alt-right figure who collaborates with Bombic, as their third candidate on the list.[22]

Since the 2020 parliamentary election – Smer's return to the opposition, Slovak authorities have been investigating a number of corruption-related crimes. By August 2023, a total of 42 individuals reportedly linked to the party, including policemen, prosecutors, judges, members of the Slovak intelligence agency, politicians, officials, and businessmen were convicted.[23] The party strongly rejects all charges, calling it criminalization of politics.[24] Numerous criticisms of the investigation process and the Special Prosecutor's Office were outlined in the brochure 'Overview of Violations of the Principles of the Rule of Law in the Years 2020–2023' published by the Ministry of Justice led by Boris Susko of Smer in December 2023.[25]

In March 2023, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Robert Kaliňák, who previously served as Minister of Interior, and businessman Jozef Brhel were formally indicted with bribery. Kaliňák was identified as the intermediary in a bribery scheme involving an annual sum of €200,000, purportedly arranged by Brhel for František Imrecze, who served as the President of the Financial Administration at the time. In return for the alleged bribery, Imrecze facilitated the passing of information regarding entities scheduled for corporate income tax audits and ensured the fulfillment of requirements for filling positions within the Financial Administration with specific individuals recommended by Brhel. In one instance, the Financial Administration then awarded substantial IT contracts to Michal Suchoba's company, Allexis, while Suchoba himself is now a cooperating defendant. Imrecze, also a cooperating defendant, stated that the total amount of bribes involved was €1,100,000. The indictment was also based on the statements of other high-ranking officials, now cooperating defendants: the former director of the Criminal Office of the Financial Administration, Ľudovít Makó, and the former director general of the tax and customs administration section, Daniel Čech.[26] In June 2023, the indictment was quashed by the Supreme Court citing "serious procedural errors that infringed upon the defendants' right to a fair defense".[27] In August 2023, Deputy Prosecutor General Jozef Sedlák canceled the charges for Kaliňák, while Brhel remained charged.[28]

In November 2020, Tibor Gašpar of Smer, a member of the National Council and former Police President, was formally charged with organizing a criminal group. According to the charge, the criminal group predominantly comprised of members of the police force was founded by Gašpar in collaboration with businessman Norbert Bödör in 2012. The alleged activities of the group involved serving the interests of Bödör while engaging in illegal activities such as obstructing investigations into tax evasion, extortion, bribery, and utilizing police resources and technology for their operations. Gašpar and Bödör were purportedly at the top of the three tiers hierarchical criminal group. In one instance, allegations suggested that a private company, Interstore Group, sought to evade a criminal investigation. It was alleged that their request was to be fulfilled through a €400,000 bribe distributed among the members of the group, with Gašpar receiving €90,000 through an intermediary. In November 2022, Prosecutor General Maroš Žilinka canceled the charges in compliance with the proposal of Prime Minister and party chairman Robert Fico and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Robert Kaliňák. Žilinka described the charges as vague and imprecise, stating that they violated the basic principles of criminal proceedings.[29]

In December 2023, Gašpar was accused of breaching the confidentiality of oral expression and other expression of a personal nature by complicity.[30]

In April 2022, Robert Fico, Robert Kaliňák, Tibor Gašpar and Norbert Bödör were officially charged with endangering commercial, banking, postal, telecommunications and tax secrets, with Fico and Kaliňák additionally charged with organizing a criminal group and abuse of authority. Fico and Kaliňák allegedly misused state authorities and collaborated with other members of the group to illegally acquire information aimed at discrediting political adversaries, namely the then opposition leaders Igor Matovič and Andrej Kiska. In November 2022, Prosecutor General Maroš Žilinka canceled the charges in compliance with the proposal of Fico and Kaliňák.[31]

In April 2023, Peter Kažimír, former Minister of Finance and former vice-chairman of the party, was convicted by the Specialized Criminal Court for bribery. According to the indictment supported by the testimony of cooperating defendant František Imrecze, Kažimír allegedly gave a bribe of €48,000 to Imrecze, who was then the President of the Financial Administration. The alleged purpose of the bribe was to expedite and ensure a favorable outcome in tax appeal proceedings concerning two private companies.[32] Kažimír denied all the charges and appealed against the verdict. As of 2024, the trial is still ongoing.[33]

In 2021, Bernard Slobodník, a cooperating defendant who formerly served as the director of the National Financial Police Unit, testified that State Secretary of Justice Pavol Gašpar of Smer, son of Tibor Gašpar, was supposed to hand over a bribe of €60,000 in exchange for information from the investigation. An investigation into the allegation was not initiated because it was already time-barred.[34]

Monika Jankovská of Smer, former State Secretary of Justice and former member of the National Council, testified about the alleged involvement in corrupt practices within the judiciary, admitting her own criminal activity.[35]

Election results

National Council

Election Leader Votes % Rank Seats +/– Status
2002 Robert Fico 387,100
13.5%
 3rd
25 / 150
 Opposition
2006 671,185
29.1%
 1st
50 / 150
 Increase 25 Smer–SNS–HZDS
2010 880,111
34.8%
 1st
62 / 150
 Increase 12 Opposition
2012 1,134,280
44.4%
 1st
83 / 150
 Increase 21 Smer
2016 737,481
28.3%
 1st
49 / 150
 Decrease 34 Smer–SNS–Bridge–Network
(2016)
Smer–SNS–Bridge
(2016–2020)
2020 Peter Pellegrini[b] 527,172
18.3%
 2nd
38 / 150
 Decrease 11 Opposition
2023 Robert Fico 681,017
23.0%
 1st
42 / 150
 Increase 4 Smer–Hlas–SNS[91]

European Parliament

Election Leader Votes % Rank Seats +/– Group
2004 Monika Beňová 118,535
16.9%
 3rd
3 / 14
 S&D
2009 Boris Zala 264,722
32.0%
 1st
5 / 13
 Increase 2
2014 Maroš Šefčovič 135,089
24.1%
 1st
4 / 13
 Decrease 1
2019 Monika Beňová 154,996
15.7%
 2nd
3 / 14
 Decrease 1
2024 TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD

President

Election Candidate First round Second round
Votes % Rank Votes % Rank
2004 Endorsed
Ivan Gašparovič 		442,564
22.3%
 2nd 1,079,592
59.9%
 1st
2009 Endorsed
Ivan Gašparovič 		876,061
46.7%
 1st 1,234,787
55.5%
 1st
2014 Robert Fico 531,919
28.0%
 1st 893,841
40.6%
 2nd
2019 Endorsed
Maroš Šefčovič[c] 		400,379
18.7%
 2nd 752,403
41.6%
 2nd
2024 Endorsed
Peter Pellegrini 		834,718
37.0%
 2nd 1,409,255
53.1%
 1st

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Also with coalitions.
  2. ^ Peter Pellegrini served as the electoral leader at the top of the party list, while Robert Fico served as the party chairman.
  3. ^ Although Maroš Šefčovič was officially an independent, his campaign was funded by the party.

Footnotes

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  3. ^ "Spectre of Radical Changes: Slovakia in Flux Ahead of National Council Elections". PISM. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  4. ^ Nordsieck, Wolfram (2020). "Slovakia". Parties and Elections in Europe. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  5. ^ "Report on Panel #1 / Mapping European Populism: Populist Authoritarian Tendencies in Central and Eastern Europe, and Challenges to the EU – ECPS". 26 April 2022. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  6. ^ "The Case of Smer Party in Slovakia". ECPR General Conference. August 2015.
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  8. ^ "Fico hovorí o LGBTI ľuďoch čoraz vulgárnejšie, jeho štátna tajomníčka pritom podporila Pride" (in Slovak). Denník N. 11 May 2021.
  9. ^ "Kto získa anti-cenu Homofób roka? Výrokmi sa "blysli" Fico, Matovič a v päťke nominovaných je aj Haľko" (in Slovak). SITA. 16 May 2022.
  10. ^ Henley, Jon (2 October 2023). "Who is Robert Fico, the pro-Russian leader poised to head Slovakia's coalition government?". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  11. ^ Cameron, Rob; Goksedef, Ece (1 October 2023). "Slovakia elections: Populist party wins vote but needs allies for coalition". BBC News. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  12. ^ Schmitz, Rob (2 October 2023). "Worry and concern follow pro-Kremlin candidate's victory in Slovakia election". NPR. Berlin. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  13. ^ "European socialists suspend Robert Fico's Smer party and its ally Hlas". 12 October 2023.
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  33. ^ "Odklon od Evropské unie a NATO směrem k Rusku. Fico cílí na extremistické voliče, říkají experti" (in Czech). Czech Radio. 5 May 2023.
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  40. ^ Lopatka, Jan (2 October 2023). "Slovakia's poll winner defies European consensus on Ukraine". Reuters.
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  43. ^ Zoltan D. Barany (2002). The East European gypsies: regime change, marginality, and ethnopolitics. Cambridge University Press. pp. 313, 408. ISBN 0-521-00910-3. Retrieved 22 May 2009.
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  45. ^ SMER suspended from PES political family Archived 6 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Party of European Socialists, 12 October 2006
  46. ^ Petit Press a.s. (16 October 2006). "Euro-socialists suspend Fico's Smer party". spectator.sme.sk. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
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  48. ^ Voľby do Národnej rady Slovenskej republiky Archived 16 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Volbysr.sk. Retrieved on 15 October 2011.
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  51. ^ "Elections to the European Parliament 2014". Archived from the original on 28 May 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
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  57. ^ "Novela Trestného zákona je schválená. Prezidentka sa pokúsi zabrániť jej účinnosti (Online)". 8 February 2024.
  58. ^ "Prezidentka podpísala Trestný zákon, hoci ho kritizuje. Vytvára čas pre Ústavný súd".
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  61. ^ "Slovensko se znovu přiklání k sebevědomému bumerangu jménem Fico" (in Czech). Seznam.cz.
  62. ^ "Fico pred veľvyslancami podporil vstup Ukrajiny do EÚ, verejnosti to najskôr nepovedal" (in Slovak). Denník N. 25 April 2023.
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  64. ^ "Fico na tlačovej konferencii znovu klamal a šíril prokremeľskú propagandu" (in Slovak). Denník N. 8 February 2023.
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  66. ^ "Opozíciu nepotrebujeme, povedali mi v Ázii. Pozrite sa, ako Fico velebil Čínu" (in Slovak). Hospodárske noviny. 15 December 2017.
  67. ^ "Fico sa bavil s Kaddáfím o boji proti imperializmu". SME.
  68. ^ "Fico hovorí o LGBTI ľuďoch čoraz vulgárnejšie, jeho štátna tajomníčka pritom podporila Pride" (in Slovak). Denník N. 11 May 2021.
  69. ^ "Kto získa anti-cenu Homofób roka? Výrokmi sa "blysli" Fico, Matovič a v päťke nominovaných je aj Haľko" (in Slovak). SITA. 16 May 2022.
  70. ^ "Fico útočí na vládu cez Rómov. Podľa splnomocnenca tak chce prekryť svoje vlastné problémy" (in Slovak). Denník N. 22 April 2022.
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  72. ^ "Výroky Roberta Fica o moslimskej komunite rieši Generálna prokuratúra" (in Slovak). TASR. 12 January 2016.
  73. ^ "Islam na Slovensku nechceme. Slová Roberta Fica obleteli svet" (in Slovak). Hospodárske noviny. 30 May 2016.
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  82. ^ "Robert Fico (Smer-SD) sa pustil do politológa Jozefa Lenča. Ste xenofóbny fašista, odkázal mu odborník" (in Slovak). TV JOJ. 13 August 2021.
  83. ^ "Fico obhajuje extrémistu Mazureka, SNS a Most ho za to kritizujú" (in Slovak). Denník N. 5 September 2019.
  84. ^ "Fico útočí na vládu cez Rómov. Podľa splnomocnenca tak chce prekryť svoje vlastné problémy" (in Slovak). Denník N. 22 April 2022.
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  86. ^ "Fico sa vracia do politickej minulosti. Na Rómov útočí slovníkom extrémistov" (in Slovak). Aktuality.sk. 6 May 2020.
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