On the portal of the paper “Rzeczpospolita” the first comment after information about the triumph of Robert Fico's SMER organization in the Slovak elections was the title: “Slovakia turns to Moscow”.
This is typical of the media in Poland, all view and all politician in Europe who does not sing in the proukrain choir is called Putin's supporter. The fact that it is simply a simple and stupid procedure is not essential to convince. Another ‘commentator’ (or alternatively a propagandist) considered that Robert Fico is pro-Russian due to the fact that he believes his goal is to immediately halt the war and talk peace! Thus, further bleeding out the Ukrainian people in the name of the global interests of the West, without hope of winning – is considered a pro-Ukrainian position in Poland!
But let's go back to Slovakia. It is very distinctive that the first politicians to congratulate the triumph of the head of the SMER organization were Vaclav Klaus, b. president of the Czech Republic, and Viktor Orban, Minister of Hungary. Both are classical right-wingers, and Fico is left-wing. Paradox? Currently, the lines of political and ideological division are completely different from that of any people. Klaus wrote:
"Dear Mr President, on Sunday morning I congratulate the unexpected but deserved triumph in the election. It turned out that the voter believed a credible politician who cares about his country, not the powerful media-supported center who wants something completely different. This is an chance to return to its own self-confident Slovak policy, as well as an impulse to politics in neighbouring countries, including the Czech Republic. I want you the best of luck in the post-election negotiations, which, as I know well, are no easier than the elections themselves."
Viktor Orban on “X” commented: “Guess who is back! I congratulate Robert Fico on his undisputed triumph in the Slovak parliamentary elections. Always good to work with a patriot. I can’t wait!”
In 1 of Fico's first speeches after the election, he stressed that if SMER formed a government, he would do everything in his power to negociate peace as shortly as possible, including at European level. He mentioned the request to return to cooperation within the Visegrad Group. Thus, Bratislava, contrary to the primitive comments in Poland and Europe, will not be closer to Moscow, but closer to Budapest, which is besides bad news for many.
Jan Engelgard
photo profile of Robert Fico
Think Poland, No. 41-42 (8-15.10.2023)
