Voters in Slovakia recently solidified the influence of Russia-friendly political forces in Central Europe by electing Peter Pellegrini as president. Pellegrini, an ally of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico, opposes providing military and financial aid to Ukraine. Despite the limited powers of the presidency in Slovakia, this election was viewed as a significant test of strength between political factions with differing views on Russia. Pellegrini’s opponent, former Foreign Minister Ivan Korcok, a staunch supporter of Ukraine and critic of Fico, was defeated in the runoff election.
In a hard-fought campaign, Pellegrini utilized smear tactics similar to those employed by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in the 2022 election, falsely accusing his opponent Korcok of wanting to send Slovak troops to fight against Russia in Ukraine. Korcok denied such intentions, emphasizing that the Slovak president lacks the authority to deploy troops, but struggled to combat the disinformation spread by pro-Russia media outlets and social media accounts. Ultimately, Pellegrini’s victory represents a significant win for Fico and his agenda, allowing him to pursue his policies without interference from the presidency. The outgoing president, Zuzana Caputova, who was pro-Western and vocal in resisting Fico’s pro-Russia stance, did not seek re-election, citing exhaustion.
During his time as prime minister, Fico had maintained a relatively restrained approach at European Union summits regarding Ukraine, in contrast to stances taken by neighboring leaders. With Pellegrini’s election, however, Slovakia may adopt a more confrontational posture akin to Hungary, pushing for what he terms as “peace” in Ukraine through a negotiated settlement to end the conflict. Korcok, a career diplomat who served as Slovakia’s ambassador to the U.S., advocates for providing military and financial support to Ukraine as the only viable solution to resolving the conflict. Fico, who has faced allegations of corruption in the past, has aligned himself with Orban in attempting to weaken the judiciary and portraying supporters of Ukraine as unpatriotic.
Fico’s return to power after stepping down in 2018 following public protests over government corruption marked a political comeback that many thought unlikely. The election of Pellegrini provides him with a freer hand to advance his agenda, potentially diverging further from the pro-Western stance that Caputova had maintained during her term. The outcome of this presidential election reflects Slovakia’s shifting political landscape and its implications for the country’s foreign relations, particularly regarding its stance on Russia and Ukraine. The election results signal a victory for Russia-friendly forces in Slovakia, potentially leading to a more confrontational approach in the region.
