Slovak parliamentary election, September 2023

Summary:

Information Guide focusing on the snap legislative election held in Slovakia on 30 September 2023.

Further information:

Slovakia's unicameral Parliament - the National Council, or Národná rada - comprises 150 seats and it is the sole constitutional and legislative body of the country. Members of the Parliament are elected directly for a term lasting four years, under the proportional system. The whole country forms one multi-member constituency. The election threshold is five percent (and seven percent for formal coalitions), and voters may indicate their preferences within the semi-open list.

The instability of the country's political situation intensified following the withdrawal of SAS from the governing coalition, citing irreconcilable divergence with O'LaNO. SAS later introduced a no-confidence vote, which the government lost leading to its collapse. The Parliament endorsed the date for an early election in January 2023, following an amendment to the Constitution. The outgoing Prime Minister initially remained in power in a caretaking capacity, but resigned in early May. A new technocratic cabinet was sworn in by the country's President, but it later lost a mandatory confidence vote in Parliament. The head of government eventually stayed in office as leader of (another) caretaker cabinet.

The election campaign focused on corruption scandals, social values, political infighting, the country's economic outlook, and Slovakia's support to Ukraine following Russia's invasion. The election was won by the opposition SMER-SD (23%), followed by PS (18%) and HLAS (14.7%). As no political force achieved a parliamentary majority, coalition negotiations ensued.

Commentary and Analysis

Balkan Insight: Review, 20/01/2023: Slovakia set for referendum and early election https://balkaninsight.com/2023/01/20/democracy-digest-slovakia-set-for-referendum-and-early-election/

Foreign Policy: Analysis, 18/07/2023: The West Can’t Ignore Slovakia’s Election https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/07/18/slovakia-elections-fico-russia-ukraine-war-propaganda/

GLOBSEC: Projects, 04/08/2023: Pre-election Monitoring of Slovak Information Space https://www.globsec.org/what-we-do/projects/pre-election-monitoring-slovak-information-space

Balkan Insight: Analysis, 22/08/2023: Slovak opposition claims Sep election will be stolen - and too many believe it https://balkaninsight.com/2023/08/22/slovak-opposition-claims-sep-election-will-be-stolen-and-too-many-believe-it/

The Guardian: Commentary, 05/09/2023: At a stroke, Slovakia could soon become Russia’s newest ally https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/sep/05/slovakia-elections-robert-fico-ukraine-russia

BBC News: The Documentary Podcast, 05/09/2023: Slovakia divided https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0gbmw3k

Balkan Insight: Interview, 05/09/2023: Slovak election pitches past against future, says democratic contender https://balkaninsight.com/2023/09/05/slovak-election-pitches-past-against-future-says-democratic-contender/

EurActiv: The Capitals, 08/09/2023: Upcoming Slovakian elections: everything you need to know https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/upcoming-slovakian-elections-everything-you-need-to-know/

Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA): Insights & Analysis, 13/09/2023: Slovak Election Forecast — Choppy But Not (Yet) Stormy https://cepa.org/article/slovak-election-forecast-choppy-but-not-yet-stormy/

University of Birmingham: News, 13/09/2023: Will Slovakia Change Direction (Again)? https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2023/will-slovakia-change-direction-again

Carnegie Europe: Strategic Europe, 14/09/2023: The Slovak Election and Its Ramifications for European Foreign Policy https://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/90555

Heinrich Böll Foundation (Prague): Studies, 18/09/2023: Slovakia: Foreign policy agenda of political parties: the greatest differences in approach to Moscow and Beijing https://cz.boell.org/en/2023/09/12/zahranicnopoliticka-agenda-v-programoch-strany-najviac-rozdeluje-pristup-k-moskve

Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW): Commentary, 19/09/2023: Slovakia before the parliamentary election: back to the past https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/osw-commentary/2023-09-19/slovakia-parliamentary-election-back-to-past

UK in a Changing Europe: Commentary, 20/09/2023: Slovakia’s elections: big decisions, but not necessarily decisive https://ukandeu.ac.uk/slovakias-elections-big-decisions-but-not-necessarily-decisive/

Foreign Policy, 20/09/2023: Slovakia Is Headed Back to the (Recent) Past https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/09/20/slovakia-snap-elections-robert-fico-prime-minister-smer-nato-ukraine/

Atlantic Council: Eye on Europe's Elections, 22/09/2023: Your primer on the Slovak elections https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/content-series/eye-on-europes-elections/your-primer-on-the-slovak-elections/

Notes from Poland: The VoiCEE Podcast, 22/09/2023: Slovak parliamentary elections and how it will impact CEE and support for Ukraine https://notesfrompoland.com/2023/09/22/the-voicee-podcast-slovak-parliamentary-elections-and-how-it-will-impact-cee-and-support-for-ukraine/

Austrian Institute for European and Security Policy (AIES), 23/09/2023: Will there be a Change of Course in Slovakia? National Council Elections in the Slovak Republic and their consequences for Austria and the EU https://www.aies.at/news/de/election-slovakia-3043

The Guardian: Q&A, 25/09/2023: Slovakian elections Q&A: country votes after four PMs in five years https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/25/slovakian-elections-qa-country-votes-after-four-pms-in-five-years

Friedrich Naumann Foundation: Analysis, 25/09/2023: Harsh election campaign: Does Europe have to fear a Slovak Orbán? https://www.freiheit.org/harsh-election-campaign-does-europe-have-fear-slovak-orban

London School of Economics (LSE): EUROPP Blog, 25/09/2023: Will Robert Fico return to power in Slovakia? https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2023/09/25/will-robert-fico-return-to-power-in-slovakia/

German Marshall Fund (GMF) of the United States: Insights, 27/09/2023: Beyond Foreign Policy: The Domestic Consequences of Smer’s Potential Election Victory in Slovakia https://www.gmfus.org/news/beyond-foreign-policy-domestic-consequences-smers-potential-election-victory-slovakia

Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe: Events, 28/09/2023: Parliamentary elections in Slovakia https://www.idm.at/events/parliamentary-elections-in-slovakia/

Politico: Opinion, 28/09/2023: Why Slovakia’s election doesn’t really matter https://www.politico.eu/article/why-the-slovak-election-doesnt-really-matter/

The Conversation, 28/09/2023: Slovakia may be about to elect a government which plans to halt aid to Kyiv https://theconversation.com/slovakia-may-be-about-to-elect-a-government-which-plans-to-halt-aid-to-kyiv-214452

Robert Schuman Foundation: European Elections Monitor (EEM): Analysis, 30/09/2023: Will Robert Fico be able to return to office in Slovakia? https://www.robert-schuman.eu/en/monitor/5849-will-robert-fico-be-able-to-return-to-office-in-slovakia

The Spectator (UK): Coffee House, 01/10/2023: How a pro-Russia party triumphed in Slovakia’s election https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/how-a-pro-russia-party-triumphed-in-slovakias-election/

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News

The Slovak Spectator: 2023 parliamentary election https://spectator.sme.sk/t/9362/2023-parliamentary-election

Reuters, 22/01/2023: Slovakia's former coalition heads agree to early parliamentary elections https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/slovakias-former-coalition-heads-agree-early-parliamentary-elections-2023-01-22/

Deutsche Welle, 23/01/2023: Slovakia: September election likely after failed referendum https://p.dw.com/p/4MZcb

Associated Press (AP News), 31/01/2023: Slovakia’s parliament sets early election for Sept 30 https://apnews.com/article/politics-slovakia-government-ukraine-zuzana-caputova-872ae94652d69d0a4bcbf8517faeeaa0

Reuters, 07/03/2023: Slovak prime minister starts new pro-Western party for Sept election https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/slovak-prime-minister-starts-new-pro-western-party-sept-election-2023-03-07/

Politico, 07/05/2023: Slovak caretaker PM quits, adding momentum to pro-Russia rival https://www.politico.eu/article/slovakia-caretaker-prime-minister-eduard-heger-quit-momentum-pro-russia-rival-robert-fico/

Associated Press (AP News), 15/06/2023: Slovakia’s technocrat government loses mandatory confidence vote, to stay till September snap vote https://apnews.com/article/slovakia-government-ousted-confidence-vote-393b17d7224770fb584666efffcbf585

Deutsche Welle, 06/08/2023: Bear attacks shake up election season in Slovakia https://p.dw.com/p/4UnYU

Deutsche Welle, 17/08/2023: Slovakia spy chief facing criminal charges ahead of key vote https://p.dw.com/p/4VIW2

EurActiv, 23/08/2023: Volt could get a second MEP after Slovak snap election https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/volt-could-get-a-third-mep-after-slovak-snap-election/

Deutsche Welle, 06/09/2023: Slovakia: Scandal overshadows pivotal election https://p.dw.com/p/4VzgA

EurActiv, 12/09/2023: Pro-Kremlin populist tipped to win Slovak elections https://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/pro-kremlin-populist-tipped-to-win-slovak-elections/

TVP World, 13/09/2023: Slovakia’s political climate heats up ahead of September 30 snap elections https://tvpworld.com/72696225/slovakias-political-climate-heats-up-ahead-of-september-30-snap-elections

European University Institute (EUI): News, 14/09/2023: Online tool helps voters decide in the Slovak 2023 elections https://www.eui.eu/news-hub?id=online-tool-helps-voters-decide-in-the-slovak-2023-elections

Associated Press (AP News), 18/09/2023: As Slovakia’s trust in democracy fades, its election frontrunner campaigns against aid to Ukraine https://apnews.com/article/slovakia-election-fico-ukraine-russia-democracy-smer-e9e04e59361d927918ff9e8e6e830694

Reuters, 21/09/2023: 'Not a single round': Slovak election could see Kyiv lose staunch ally https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/not-single-round-slovak-election-could-see-kyiv-lose-staunch-ally-2023-09-21/

Reuters, 21/09/2023: Slovakia's SMER party holds lead before Sept. 30 election, poll shows https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/slovakias-smer-party-holds-lead-before-sept-30-election-poll-2023-09-21/

Politico, 26/09/2023: Specter of Russian interference hangs over Slovak election, EU warns https://www.politico.eu/article/european-union-slovakia-elections-russian-interference-disinformation/

EUObserver, 27/09/2023: Resurgent Fico hopes for Slovak comeback at Saturday's election https://euobserver.com/eu-political/157460

Europe Elects, 28/09/2023: Why Slovakia’s Election Does Really Matter, Despite What Politico Tells You https://europeelects.eu/2023/09/28/why-slovakias-election-does-really-matter/

France24, 30/09/2023: Slovakia votes in elections threatening Western unity on Ukraine https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20230930-slovakia-votes-in-elections-threatening-western-unity-on-ukraine

Bloomberg, 30/09/2023: Pro-EU Party, Firebrand Ex-Premier Neck-And-Neck in Slovakia https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-09-30/firebrand-ex-premier-pro-eu-party-neck-and-neck-in-slovak-vote?leadSource=uverify%20wall

EurActiv, 01/10/2023: Pro-Kremlin populist Fico wins Slovakia elections https://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/pro-kremlin-populist-fico-wins-slovakia-elections/

The Guardian, 01/10/2023: Slovakia election: pro-Moscow former PM on course to win with almost all votes counted https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/01/slovakia-election-pro-moscow-former-pm-on-course-to-win-with-almost-all-votes-counted

Euronews, 01/10/2023: Pro-Russian party wins Slovakia's election, but not outright https://www.euronews.com/2023/10/01/pro-russian-party-wins-slovakias-election-but-not-outright

BBC News, 01/10/2023: Slovakia elections: Populist party wins vote but needs allies for coalition https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-66972984

Politico, 01/10/2023: Former PM Fico wins Slovak election https://www.politico.eu/article/former-pm-fico-wins-slovak-election/

Reuters, 01/10/2023: Pro-Russian ex-PM Fico wins Slovak election, needs allies for government https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/slovaks-choose-between-pro-russian-ex-pm-fico-pro-western-liberals-2023-09-29/

Politico, 01/10/2023: Coalition jockeying revs up in Slovakia after Fico’s victory https://www.politico.eu/article/slovakia-election-prime-minister-robert-fico-smer-hlas-patience-coalition/

Deutsche Welle, 01/10/2023: Slovakia elections: Populist Fico grabs victory https://p.dw.com/p/4WzSm

RTÉ News, 01/10/2023: Slovak populists opposed to Ukraine aid win election https://www.rte.ie/news/2023/1001/1408309-slovakia-election/

Radio Poland, 01/10/2023: Pro-Russian politician wins Slovak election https://www.polskieradio.pl/395/7785/artykul/3252515

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Official

Slovak Government: Ministry of the Interior: State Commission for Elections and Control of Political Party Financing [in Slovak] https://www.minv.sk/?uvod-komisia-pre-volby

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE): ODIHR: Early Parliamentary Elections, 30 September 2023 https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/slovakia/548812

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Wikipedia: 2023 Slovak parliamentary election https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Slovak_parliamentary_election

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