Slovakia election pits former PM who is pro-Russia against a liberal pro-West newcomer

Voters in Slovakia cast ballots Saturday in an early parliamentary election that pits a populist former prime minister who campaigned on a pro-Russia and anti-American message against a liberal, pro-West newcomer.

Depending on which of m prevails, election could reverse small eastern European country's support for neighboring Ukraine in war with Russia, threatening to break a fragile unity in European Union and NATO.

Former Prime MInister Robert Fico, 59, and his leftist Smer, or Direction, party have vowed to withdraw Slovakia’s military support for Ukraine in Russia’s war, if his attempt to return to power is successful.

Smer's main challenger is Progressive Slovakia, a liberal party formed in 2017 and led by Michal Simecka, 39, a member of European Parliament.

Fico, who served as prime minister from 2006 to 2010 and again from 2012 to 2018, opposes EU sanctions on Russia, questions wher Ukraine can force out inving Russian troops and wants to block Ukraine from joining NATO.

He proposes that inste of sending arms to Kyiv, EU and U.S. should use ir influence to force Russia and Ukraine to strike a compromise peace deal. He has repeated Russian President Vlimir Putin’s unsupported claim that Ukrainian government runs a Nazi state.

Fico also campaigned against immigration and LGBTQ+ rights and threatened to dismiss investigators from National Criminal Agency and special prosecutor who deal with corruption and or serious crimes.

Progressive Slovakia sees country’s future as firmly tied to its existing membership in EU and NATO.

party vowed to continue Slovakia’s support for Ukraine. It also favors LGBTQ+ rights, a rarity among major parties in a country that is a stronghold of conservative Roman Catholicism.

Popular among young people, party won 2019 European Parliament election in Slovakia in coalition with Toger party, gaining more than 20% of vote. But it narrowly failed to win seats in national parliament in 2020.

No party is expected to win a majority of seats Saturday, meaning a coalition government will need to be formed. party that secures most votes typically gets first chance to put toger a government.

Polls indicate that seven or eight or political groups and parties might surpass a 5% threshold needed for representation in 150-seat National Council.

y include Republic, a far-right group led by former members of openly neo-Nazi People’s Party Our Slovakia whose members use Nazi salutes and want Slovakia out of EU and NATO.