Ex-presidential candidate Korฤok joins PS in effort to defeat Ficoโs Smer
Korฤok wants “to help make Slovakia a modern, European nationโ.
Smer
Ficoโs Smer no longer Slovakiaโs most popular party
Fico mentioned that polls cannot be trusted.
Slovak minister slams students who dressed up as Fico voters for Halloween
The wigs and signs were clearly not taken lightly.
EU to release โฌ799M to Slovakia after rule-of-law dispute
Recent efforts from the Slovakian parliament have โalleviated some of the Commissionโs concerns,โ a European Commission spokesperson said.
Controversial Slovak MEP visits Moscow to thank Russia for โliberationโ
“Russia is still beautiful, still wise and still advanced,” said lawmaker ฤฝuboลก Blaha, an ally of Slovak PM Robert Fico.
Fico lashes out at Slovak media, calls for stricter controls
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD/NI) lashed out at major media outlets at a press conference on Tuesday, accusing them of undermining his government and hinting at new possible measures against them, including creating a national media author…
Ukraine will never join NATO on my watch, says Slovakia PM Fico
The admission of new countries to NATO requires unanimous agreement by alliance members.
Internal rift in Ficoโs coalition as parties air grievances in public
The mounting rift between Slovakiaโs ruling parties, SNS and Hlas-SD (NI), shows no signs of abating as parties air their differences in the media, and Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD/NI) refuses to intervene publicly.
Wagenknecht party and Ficoโs Smer tease alliance, but โtoo soonโ for new EP groupย ย
Germanyโs Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) and Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico’s Smer have confirmed a new attempt to strengthen โleft-conservativeโ ties in the European Parliament, but said a new group is still some way off.ย
Slovakia loses fight against corruption
Prime Minister Robert Fico doesn’t care.
New EU โconservative-leftโ group could be set up within a year, says Czech MEP
A new conservative left-wing alliance is in the process of forming in the European Parliament, with the potential of officially being established within a year, Czech MEP Ondลej Dostรกl (non-attached) revealed in an interview for Euractiv.cz.ย
The great Commission puzzle: Who we think will get each portfolio
Ursula von der Leyen is about to hand out key jobs in her team. Hereโs POLITICOโs version of the next Commission.
Slovakiaโs Fico is back after being shot. So are the countryโs protesters.
Tens of thousands of Slovaks have decried the governmentโs erosion of democratic European values.
Slovak education chief refuses to implement anti-LGBTQ+ measures in schools
“I absolutely reject any politicization of education,โ says Education Minister Tomรกลก Drucker.
Slovak Olympic team rep boycotts closing ceremony over โdeviant decadenceโ
Deputy PM representing far-right party deplores ‘progressive political theater’ at opening ceremony in Paris.
Slovak elite investigators charged with abuse of power
The accused had all worked on a massive corruption case tied to Prime Minister Robert Fico and his political allies.
Hungary, Slovakia, and Italy fail to impress in EU Rule of Law report
While EU countries are generally making progress on rule of law, Slovakia, Hungary face criticism when the European Commission presented its fifth annual report on Wednesday (July 24).
Fico compares Trumpโs shooting to his own assassination attempt
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD/NI), who recently survived a politically motivated shooting, drew parallels between his experience and the recent assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump, suggesting that their political oppo…
Ficoโs Smer will not join new Patriots for Europe group, cites ideological divide
Smer-SD (NI) will not join Viktor Orban’s new Patriots for Europe group, said party leader and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, citing a lack of alignment with left-wing or social-democratic principles while criticising the European Socialists for re…
The Habsburg empire strikes back
Viktor Orbรกnโs new hard-right group, Patriots for Europe, is a Habsburg coalition that gives the Hungarian leader the European platform he craves.
Smer MEP pushes to cease negotiations with EU socialists, proposes alternative
Monika Beลovรก, a Slovak MEP for Robert Fico’s Smer-SD (NI) party, proposed ending negotiations with the Party of European Socialists (PES), which suspended the party’s membership last year, claiming she would instead present a “different plan” to her c…
Slovakian government is quashing public media independence, opposition warns
The new legislation, pushed for by PM Robert Fico’s ruling party, SMER, will disband the public broadcaster RTVS and replace it with an entirely new public TV and radio station.
Italyโs 5Star Movement asks to join Left group in European Parliament
Left-wing parliamentarians will vote on accepting the Italians Wednesday.
Polandโs Law and Justice โ50/50โ about leaving Giorgia Meloni and joining forces with Viktor Orbรกn
Ex-Polish PM Mateusz Morawiecki says his PiS party is exploring creating a Central Eastern European grouping in the European Parliament.
A bear attack in Slovakia reveals what the far right really wants
Across the globe, populists are rolling back efforts to save nature and the planet.
Pro-EU liberals triumph over Ficoโs Smer in Slovak EU elections
Liberal opposition party Progressive Slovakia (PS/Renew) emerged victorious in the European elections in Slovakia with 27.8% of the vote and six seats, beating Robert Ficoโs Smer-SD (NI), initially seen as the frontrunner, which secured 24.8% of the vo…
How to watch the EU election like a Pro
4 days, 27 votes โ itโs a European election bonanza!
All politics is local: What the EU election is actually about in each country
When EU voters head to the polls later this week, one thing is certain: Almost none of them will be thinking of Europe when they cast their ballot.ย A plethora of studies โ and sky-high abstention rates โ show that most of the blocโs citizens neither understand nor care about the European Parliament vote. Because [โฆ]
Out with the old: Gen Zers ready to take the reins
Hailing from across the political spectrum, young people are looking to breathe new life into EU policymaking.
Ficoโs assassination attempt reshuffles cards in Slovakiaโs EU election campaign
An assassination attempt against Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on 15 May has had a significant impact on the electorate, recent polls suggest, as his Smer party seems to have gained significant ground ahead of the EU elections.
The mystery of Europeโs new โleft conservativeโ groupย
The aspirations of Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW), Germanyโs rising โleft-conservativeโ party, to form a new group in the European Parliament remain shrouded in mystery, as other leftists seem, so far, to keep their distance.
Ficoโs โJudasโ government should have backed Ukraine, shooting suspect says
Shooter told authorities he disagreed with leader’s pro-Russia politics, according to a new legal document.
Slovakia tries to rebottle genie of hate after Fico shooting
Ruling coalition politicians pour out anger on social media despite calls for calm and reconciliation.
New Dutch government drives wedge through EU liberals
Valรฉrie Hayer, the leading candidate for Emmanuel Macron’s party in France, slammed decision by Mark Rutte’s party to join Geert Wilders.
Slovak majority lawmaker met Russian ambassador in parliament, entertains pro-Russian narrative
On Wednesday (15 May), Russian Ambassador to Slovakia Igor Bratchikov met secretly with controversial ruling party Smer lawmaker Tibor Gaลกpar in the Slovak parliament to discuss namely the war in Ukraine and cyber security before dabbling in pro-Kremli…
Roots of Robert Ficoโs shooting lie in Slovakiaโs bitter divides
Minister fears country is “on the verge of civil war” after attempted assassination.
Slovak PM Fico in life-threatening condition after โpolitically motivatedโ shooting
Dennรญk N reports, that the Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD, S&D) got shot on Wednesday afternoon (15 may). He was immediately taken to the hospital.
Slovak parties largely united against scrapping the EU veto
Slovakiaโs three main parliamentary parties reiterated their opposition to the possible abolition of the EU member statesโ right of veto, saying it is crucial for Slovak sovereignty, candidates in the EU elections from the ruling Smer, Hlas and opposit…
Russiagate hits German far right
AfD lawmaker under pressure to say whether he received payment from pro-Russian network.
Slovak president election: Pro-EU diplomat edges coalition stalwart in first round
Parliament speaker Peter Pellegrini and diplomat Ivan Korฤok move on to knockout round.
Slovakia, the EUโs next rule of law headache
Prime Minister Robert Ficoโs first steps since returning to power have set off familiar alarm bells in Brussels.
Mainstream Europarties should spurn radical populists
When it comes to EU-level politics, mainstream voters strongly disapprove of their parties partnering with radicals and would-be autocrats.
Slovakian PM Ficoโs plan to reduce corruption penalties suspended
Constitutional Court suspends parts of controversial criminal code reform, including slashing the statute of limitations for rape.
Slovak law change roils corruption, rape prosecutions
Amendment was prepared by MPs under indictment and would favorably impact the outcome of their court cases, president notes.
Slovak PM: Ukraine must give up territory to end Russian invasion
Slovakia’s Fico reiterates opposition to Kyiv’s accession to NATO.
Nicolas who? Socialists close in on challenger to take on Ursula von der Leyen
Spanish and German backing clear field for Luxembourg’s Nicolas Schmit to become socialists’ top candidate in EU election.
The โdirty dozenโ of Davos
Autocrats, blowhards and bores: The 12 bad boys of the World Economic Forum shindig in the Swiss Alps.
Fico government to tighten grip on whistleblowers amid EU infringement fears
Prime Minister Robert Ficoโs government wants to strip Smer investigators of their legal protection, but a legal expert warns that the EU Commission could launch an infringement procedure. The proposed changes include ensuring that police officers cann…
Slovakiaโs plan to scrap prosecutorโs office prompts rule-of-law concerns in Brussels
The institution handles sensitive cases related to corruption โ including those connected to officials from the ruling Smer party.
Slovakian PM criticised over plan to scrap corruption prosecutor
Critics of Robert Fico fear aim is to halt investigations into individuals connected to ruling Smer partySlovakiaโs populist new prime minister, Robert Fico, has been accused of promoting a โpoisonousโ plan to undercut prosecutors working on sensitive …
Slovak interior minister takes legal action against Smer investigators
Slovak Interior Minister Matรบลก ล utaj Eลกtok filed a criminal complaint Monday alleging that police officers who investigated current Smer MP Tibor Gaลกpar should not have been granted whistleblower status as his decision to suspend them could cost Slovak…
Fico government working towards shortening jail time for corruption
People with ties to Prime Minister Robert Ficoโs Smer party who were prosecuted for corruption allegations could be left with a slap on the wrist instead of jail time as the Slovak Justice Ministry works on criminal code reforms –…
Disinformation experts are leaving Ficoโs government
Ministry workers are leaving their posts after the Smer-SD party took power, citing interference and incompatibility, as government members spread hoaxes and pro-Russian narratives in a team that is losing disinformation experts. Interventions in the f…
New Slovak coalition embraces revenge, radicalism
Robert Fico has named his top team, and it features some controversial characters.
Slovakian media express alarm after prime minister threatens to restrict access
Robert Fico describes leading broadcasters and newspapers as hostile and says they are โunwelcome guests at government officeโSlovakian journalists and international watchdogs have expressed alarm after the new prime minister, Robert Fico, described le…
After catching no migrants, Slovakia cancels snap border controls with Hungary
Opposition chief slams frontier move as ‘expensive theater.’
Slovakiaโs Fico announces halt of military aid to Ukraine
Bratislava will only provide humanitarian aid to Kyiv from now on, newly elected Prime Minister says.
Robert Fico to become Slovakiaโs new prime minister
Robert Ficoโs will become Slovakiaโs prime minister on Wednesday and is expected to travel to this weekโs meeting of EU leaders in Brussels.
Slovakiaโs president refuses to back climate change denier as environment minister
Zuzana ฤaputovรก’s decision could prevent Robert Fico from attending next week’s EU summit.
Smer signs coalition agreement to end โforeign NGO ruleโ
Slovakiaโs new government wants to crack down on foreign-funded NGOs in a move reminiscent of laws labelling NGOs as foreign agents introduced in Russia and Hungary, with the latter seeing its laws struck down by the EU Court of Justice….
Commission, Council lame in regulating spyware; Breton urges Musk to tackle disinfo on X
Welcome to Euractivโs Tech Brief, yourย weekly update on all things digital in the EU. You can subscribe to the newsletterย here.ย โSpyware has become a hydra, and Europe is its safe haven.โ – Sophie in ‘t Veld, Dutch MEP with…