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Leader of Progressive Slovakia Party Michal Simecka
Liberals have a slender lead in Slovakia’s elections over a pro-Moscow party led by populist former PM Robert Fico, exit polls counsel.
The pro-Moscow party, Smer-SD, had been anticipated to win the vote, however polls counsel its recognition has fallen in latest days.
Smer has pledged an instantaneous finish to army help for Ukraine.
Vote counting is continuous and the true outcomes won’t be recognized for a number of hours.
If the liberal group Progressive Slovakia is confirmed because the winner, it is going to lead coalition talks on forming the following authorities.
Progressive Slovakia, led by European Parliament vice-speaker Michal Simecka, was projected to win 23.5% of the vote, forward of 21.9% for Mr Fico’s party, an exit ballot by Focus company for TV Markiza confirmed.
Mr Fico was pressured to step down as prime minister following the homicide of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak in 2018.
“If Smer enters government, we will not send a single round of ammunition to Ukraine,” he not too long ago instructed supporters.
The menace has led to considerations amongst European Union and Nato members, whereas gaining help on social media amongst Slovaks who historically have heat sentiments in the direction of Moscow.
Slovakia has been a loyal and steadfast ally to Kyiv, supplying floor-to-air missiles and helicopters and even donating its complete fleet of retired MiG-29 fighter jets.
Progressive Slovakia provides a imaginative and prescient of an “open, tolerant, cosmopolitan society” and has advocated following a liberal line throughout the European Union on points equivalent to inexperienced insurance policies and LGBTQ+ rights.
Smer dismisses that imaginative and prescient as “liberal fascism”, campaigning on stability, order and social safety as an alternative. Mr Fico has additionally mentioned that he’s involved in regards to the rise within the variety of migrants going to western Europe by means of Slovakia.
Neither Smer nor Progressive Slovakia are prone to win sufficient seats to kind a authorities on their very own. There could possibly be as many as 10 events within the new parliament from libertarians to far-proper, which may make the coalition course of lengthy and complex.
Shortly after the exit polls had been launched, Mr Simecka mentioned: “It will apparently be very close, between us and Smer, but also for those parties that may or may not get into parliament”.
