Slovak PM Faces Defeat In EU Polls Following Assassination Bid

Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico was unexpectedly defeated in EU elections by the opposition liberals on Sunday, weeks after being seriously injured in an assassination attempt.

On its Facebook page, Fico’s left-wing nationalist Smer-SD party conveyed congratulations to the winner of the election, Progressive Slovakia, and its new European parliament members.

Fico, 59, opposes military aid to Ukraine in its struggle against the Russian invasion.

According to the opinion polls, he was the frontrunner to win the election, indicating that the assassination attempt has increased support for his party.

Progressive Slovakia (PS) received 27.81 percent of the vote in Sunday’s election, resulting in six seats in the European Parliament, as per results widely reported in Slovak media before official publication.

Smer-SD earned 24.76 percent of the vote, earning five seats in the EU’s 720-member assembly.

The far-right party According to the results, Republika ranked third with 12.53 percent and two seats.

Fico was shot four times at close range on May 15 while greeting supporters following a government meeting.

PS Chairman Michal Simecka, a former vice-president of the European Parliament, stated that voters had conveyed a very important message to this government: slow down, because you cannot do whatever you want.

Turnout was slightly higher than in previous EU elections in the country, at just under 35%.

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