Populist former Prime Minister in Slovakia signs deal to form new government

Former Slovakia Prime Minister Robert Fico's Smer party, the Hlas, and the Slovak National Party agree to form a new coalition government, allowing Fico to return to office. Fico's anti-American, pro-Russian stance could strain EU/NATO unity. He vows to protect Slovakia's sovereignty and against illegal migration.

A former Prime Minister of Slovakia, who plans to end the country's military support for Ukraine, is poised to return to office after his political party signed a deal on October 11 with two other parties to form a coalition government.

The leftist Smer, or Direction, party captured 22.9% of the vote in Slovakia's September 30 parliamentary election. The party's leader, populist former Prime Minister Robert Fico, needed to find coalition partners to rule with a majority in the country's 150-seat Parliament.

The memorandum signed on October 11 provides for a coalition of Smer, which holds 42 seats; the left-wing Hlas, or Voice, party, which placed third in the election and has 27 seats; and the ultra-nationalist and pro-Russia Slovak National Party, which has 10 lawmakers in the new parliament.

Mr. Fico's former deputy in Smer, Peter Pellegrini, is the leader of Hlas. Mr. Pellegrini parted ways with Fico after the scandal-tainted Smer lost the previous election in 2020. Their reunion was a key to Mr. Fico’s ability to form a government.

It was not immediately clear when President Zuzana Caputova might swear in the new government. Mr. Fico said he hoped to represent Slovakia at the next summit of the leaders of European Union member nations, which is scheduled for late October.

As part of the coalition deal, Smer will get to appoint the Prime Minister and six other Ministers, opening the way for Mr. Fico to serve as Slovakia's head of government for the fourth time.