European socialists suspend Robert Fico’s Smer party and its ally Hlas
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The Party of European Socialists suspended both Robert Fico’s election-winning Smer (Direction) party and Peter Pellegrini’s Hlas (Voice) party, which on Wednesday announced they’d formed a government in Slovakia.
“This step has been taken following the clear divergence from the values of the PES family demonstrated by Smer-SD leader Robert Fico. And additionally, as a result of concerns raised following the announcement of a government coalition between Smer-SD, Hlas-SD and a radical-right party,” said the press release.
A meeting of the PES presidency made the announcement a day after the two parties announced an agreement on forming a ruling coalition in Slovakia, along with the right-populist Slovak National Party.
The suspension of Hlas — which has an associated rather than full membership in the PES — was not anticipated.
Stefan Löfven, the president of PES and former prime minister of Sweden, had threatened to expel Fico in an interview with Swedish media before the election due to its populist tilt. Smer was already temporarily suspended in 2006 after forming a government with the far right.
According to the S&D, the group’s bureau will meet Tuesday in Strasbourg to discuss suspending its three Slovak members from their group. “The recent public comments and positions taken by SMER and HLAS party leaders regarding the Russian war against Ukraine, migration, the rule of law and the LGTBIQ community have raised serious concerns and have no place in the progressive family,” reads the group’s press release.
Smer gained 23 percent in the election on September 30, while Hlas ended up in third place with 14.7 percent.
Election of the three-time former Prime Minister Fico has set off alarm bells in Brussels after he proclaimed that Slovakia will end military support to Ukraine, criticized EU sanctions against Russia and made LGBTQ-phobic statements.
Smer, for its part, says it will continue supporting Ukraine with financial and humanitarian aid and remains a party committed to EU and NATO membership.
