Slovakia election keeps West on toes amid pro-Russia shift in Europe

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: The New York Times
2 Oct 2023 13:24

A report by the New York Times states that there is a notable shift in sentiment across Central Europe, with Slovakia, Hungary, and Serbia all exhibiting pro-Russia stances.

Former Slovak Prime Minister and head of leftist SMER - Social Democracy party - Robert Fico waves to his supporters during an election rally in Michalovce, Slovakia, on Sept. 6, 2023 (AP/Petr David Josek, File)

The recent victory of Robert Fico in Slovakia's parliamentary elections, campaigning with a pro-Russian stance, reflects a waning level of support for Ukraine in Western countries as the conflict drags on, The New York Times reported on Tuesday.

Slovakia, historically sympathetic to Russia, has seen a significant shift in its political landscape. Fico's election platform included stopping arms shipments to Ukraine and placing equal blame for the war on the West and Kiev.

This result coincides with growing concerns in both the US and the EU regarding the billions of dollars in military aid allocated to Ukraine amid increasing calls to redirect these funds toward domestic priorities.

In Central Europe, a region once characterized by strong anti-Russian sentiment, perceptions of the war have become more nuanced.

Fico's victory underscores this perspective, which is fueled by social conservatism, nationalism, and promises of generous welfare programs.

A Globsec survey conducted in March across Central and Eastern Europe found that 51 percent of Slovaks believed either the West or Ukraine bore "primary responsibility" for the war.

Robert Fico, who served as prime minister for over a decade until 2018, capitalized on this sentiment.

The report states that Fico adopted rhetoric similar to that of Hungary's Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, who has resisted the prevailing Western stance on Ukraine.

"Fico was inspired by Orban, but does not have the same deep ideological roots, and is more of a pragmatist," Ludek Sekyra, a Czech businessman who chairs the Sekyra Foundation, told NYT. "He has been adept in exploiting unease over the vast influx of Ukrainian refugees, small-country resentment of the EU and Russian sympathies that do not exist in the Czech Republic."

The possibility of a coalition with another former prime minister, Peter Pellegrini of the social democratic Voice party, who secured nearly 15 percent of the vote, could lead to greater pragmatism from Robert Fico.

Fico, who played a key role in Slovakia's adoption of the euro and has demonstrated strong pro-European sentiments in the past, may be influenced by this partnership.

In Central Europe, there is a notable shift in sentiment, with Slovakia, Hungary, and Serbia all displaying significant sympathy for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Even Poland, a staunch supporter of Ukraine that has taken in more than 1.5 million Ukrainian refugees during the conflict, recently closed its border to low-cost Ukrainian grain imports.

Poland, governed by the hard-right nationalist Law and Justice Party (PiS), is currently engaged in a heated electoral battle against the liberal opposition.

While the de facto leader of Poland, Jarosław Kaczynski, remains firmly anti-Russian, his nationalist and conservative values align with those of leaders like Viktor Orban and Robert Fico, The New York Times added.

A PiS victory could further undermine European unity, especially as the conflict in Ukraine shows no signs of resolution.

Kaczynski opposes the European political, military, and economic integration championed by French President Emmanuel Macron.

There has even been discussion of a potential Polish exit from the EU, a remote possibility but one that underscores the tensions that the conflict in Ukraine has introduced.

Even in Western Europe, support for Ukrainian membership in the EU and NATO is not uniform.

A recent German Marshall Fund survey revealed that only 52 percent of respondents in France and 49 percent in Germany supported Ukrainian EU membership, while in Germany, just 45 percent favored Ukrainian NATO membership.

These developments highlight the tensions arising from the war in Ukraine and its impact on European unity.

In Western Europe, a recent survey by the German Marshall Fund revealed varying levels of support for Ukraine's membership in the European Union (EU) and NATO.

France and Germany, for example, had only 52 percent and 49 percent support, respectively, for Ukrainian EU membership. In Germany, just 45 percent favored Ukrainian NATO membership.

However, despite these differences, the survey indicated that overall, 69 percent of people on both sides of the Atlantic support providing financial aid for Ukraine's reconstruction.

Several countries, including the UK, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, and Lithuania, displayed strong support for Ukraine across various aspects.

Nonetheless, there is growing sentiment in some quarters for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to engage in negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a challenging move given the lack of readiness for any compromise on the part of Kiev.

The recent election in Slovakia, a country bordering Ukraine, where the winning candidate expressed reluctance to provide military support to Ukraine, adds further pressure on Ukraine's leadership.

It also presents challenges for the EU, which is already grappling with concerns about the possible return of Donald J. Trump to the White House and facing internal divisions that may be exacerbated by a Polish election.