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☆ European leaders say they can’t fully replace U.S. support to Ukraine as funding fears grow
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Gathering in Granada, Spain, for a summit of the European Political Community, European leaders sought to reaffirm their commitment to Ukraine amid Russia's full-scale invasion. He has insisted, however, that a majority of members across both major parties support funding Kyiv. "Ukraine needs the support of the European Union, which is sure, they will have it and we will increase it. "As far as I oversee the situation in the United States, I am very confident of support for Ukraine from the United States. Asked whether the EU could step in if the U.S. does not resume its support for Ukraine, Rutte said, "It is not necessary.

Persons: Josep Borrell, Jorge Guerrero, Joe Biden, Robert Fico, Washington's, Borrell, Viktor Bondarev, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy, Ursula von der Leyen, Biden, Mark Rutte, Rutte Organizations: EU, Representative, Union for Foreign Affairs, Palacio, Congreso, Afp, Getty, Political Community, Wednesday, Republican, U.S . Congress, European Union, Kyiv, Russia's Federation, Committee, Defense, Security, European Commission, Congresos, Political, Europa Press, Dutch, U.S . House, Representatives, Hague, Ukraine Locations: Granada, Spain, U.S, Ukraine, Europe, Russian, Slovakia, Kyiv, EU, America, Russia, Andalusia, United States, Netherlands

☆ Slovakia tightens Hungary border in 'chain reaction' as migrant arrivals rise
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Slovakia's checks on its border with Hungary will start on Thursday and last 10 days. The Czech Republic, Poland and Austria already started temporary controls on their borders with Slovakia on Wednesday, while Germany introduced new controls with Poland and the Czech Republic last week. Odor, serving as a caretaker until a new government takes office following an election on Sunday, had previously resisted calls to impose border controls. "Poland is before elections, such rhetoric appears, and then the Czech Republic reacts and so does Austria. Slovakia's government said nearly 40,000 illegal migrants have passed into Slovakia since the start of the year.

Persons: Bernadett Szabo, Robert Fico, Jan Lopatka, Jason Hovet, Deborah Kyvrikosaios Organizations: Migrants, REUTERS, Slovak, Thomson Locations: Slovakia, Hungary, Chl'aba, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, East, Afghanistan, Germany, Western Europe, Central

☆ Kyiv: Ousting of US House speaker darkens outlook for Ukraine aid as funds dry up
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Tim Lister | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

That left the Biden administration’s $24 billion request for fresh military aid, submitted to Congress in the summer, in limbo. While it’s unclear who might succeed him, several potential candidates are skeptical about continuing support for Ukraine at current levels. Let’s be clear, if the US Congress does not pass a funding bill, Ukraine will be in deep trouble. But for Ukraine’s military planners, the uncertainty is an immense challenge as they try to plot any winter offensive or where to place air defenses. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty ImagesBut a senior adviser to Zelensky criticized “Western conservative elites” for suggesting that military aid to Ukraine should be suspended.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Joe Biden, McCarthy “, ” McCarthy, Volodymyr Zelensky, Robert Fico’s, –, Michael McCord, McCord, ”, Max Bergmann, ” Bergmann, Bergmann, “, Bergman, Dmytro Kuleba, ” Kuleba, Oksana Markarova, ” Markarova, Bryan R, Smith, Zelensky, Mykhailo Podolyak, Podolyak, ” Podolyak Organizations: CNN, Russia grinds, Kyiv, Biden, Ukraine, Russia, NATO, Congressional, House Democrats, Pentagon, Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, Center for Strategic, International Studies, “, ‘, European Union, Facebook, Embassy of, USA, UN, Assembly, …, Congress Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Washington, Slovakia, Poland, Warsaw, Kyiv, Embassy of Ukraine, AFP

☆ What Macron means when he says he wants to 'take back control' of French power prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

PARIS, Oct 4 (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron said last week his government would "take back control" of electricity prices by the end of the year, without spelling out what steps he would take. "There is a point that is key for our competitiveness, and we will announce it in October, and that is to take back control of electricity prices," Macron said. "We'll be able to announce in October electricity prices that are in line with our competitiveness," he said, adding this would apply to households and businesses. However, French officials say Germany is undermining a traditional French strength due to fears cheap nuclear electricity could provide French businesses with a competitive advantage over German companies. Under the current system, called marginal pricing, European electricity prices are linked to the most expensive power producing asset.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Macron, We'll, Bruno Le Maire, Michel Rose, Elizabeth Pineau, Benjamin Mallet, Leigh Thomas, Forrest Crellin, Kate Abnett, Julia Payne, Mark Potter Organizations: Union, EDF, EU, European Commission, French Finance, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Paris, France, Brussels, Germany, Russia, Europe, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Luxembourg, Austria, Spain

☆ Battered industry may find clean power refuge in Central Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Gavin Maguire | Thomson Reuters | Gavin Maguire Is The Global Energy Transition Columnist. He Was Previously Asia Commodities | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

CENTRAL EUROPE'S PERKSMuch of Central and Eastern Europe has a reputation for being home to outdated heavy industry that once powered former Soviet enterprises and churned out low grade machinery and appliances. A more recent draw is the emissions profile of some of Central Europe's power sectors. Share of electricity from clean sources in select European countriesThose high proportions of clean power are well above the average for Europe as a whole, and are also above the average for the richer nations within the European Union. Power sector emissions from select Central & Eastern European CountriesHungary's power system is also primarily clean, with nearly half coming from nuclear and over 15% from solar. Comparatively low power sector emissions are expected to trend steadily down as the region rolls out more renewable energy supplies.

Persons: Italy's Enel, Ember, Gavin Maguire, Lincoln Organizations: CENTRAL, Warsaw, Central Europe's, Europe, European Union, Gross, Eastern, International Energy Agency, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Mochovce, LITTLETON , Colorado, Central, Germany, Ukraine, Europe, Eastern Europe, Hungary, Romania, Poland, Slovakia, China, France, Eastern, Russia, Power, Czechia

Dealing with illegal migration has been a point of contention and unity in central Europe. Illegal migration was a key issue in elections in Slovakia last weekend, and in elections in Poland later this month. Slovakia has faced a rising number of illegal migrants crossing as they head to Germany and western Europe. Slovakia said last month the number of detained illegal migrants had soared nine fold, to more than 27,000 this year. "In recent weeks, we detected and detained 551 illegal migrants at the border with Slovakia.

Persons: Radovan, Vit Rakusan, Gerhard Karner, spillover, Robert Fico, Fico, Mariusz Kaminski, Kaminski, Jason Hovet, Jan Lopatka, Pawel Florkiewicz, Anna Wlodarczak, Francois Murphy, Andrew Heavens, Ed Osmond, Deborah Kyvrikosaios Organizations: REUTERS, Slovakia Czech, Austrian, Justice, Poland, Thomson Locations: Czech, Slovak, Stary Hrozenkov, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, PRAGUE, WARSAW, Poland, Europe, Hungary, Vienna, East, Afghanistan, Serbia, Prague, Warsaw

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania have agreed on a plan they hope will help expedite Ukrainian grain exports, officials said Tuesday, with needy countries beyond Europe potentially benefitting from speedier procedures. The move seeks to facilitate the transit of Ukrainian exports through Polish territory, the statement said, without providing further details. While the stated goal is to hasten Ukrainian grain exports, the agreement may also help defuse tensions over grain prices between Ukraine and Poland a time when some international support for Kyiv's efforts to throw back Russia's invasion may be fraying. That has left more expensive overland routes through Europe as the main path for Ukraine’s exports. Sealed freight has helped combat that problem, and sending Ukrainian grain straight to the Lithuanian port may also be an answer.

Persons: ___ Monika Scislowska, Yuras Organizations: —, Farmers, European Union, World Trade Organization, EU Locations: KYIV, Ukraine, — Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, Europe, Lithuanian, Baltic, Klaipeda, Russia, Hungary, Slovakia, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Kherson, Warsaw, Tallinn, Estonia, russia, ukraine

[1/2] SMER-SSD party leader Robert Fico arrives to the party's headquarters after the country's early parliamentary elections, in Bratislava, Slovakia, October 1, 2023. Caputova, a liberal who has a tense relationship with Fico, a three-time former prime minister, will first make a 2 p.m. statement on the election outcome. Fico and his SMER-SSD party won nearly 23% of the vote on Saturday, ahead of liberal challenger Progresivne Slovensko (Progressive Slovakia, PS) with 18%. HLAS, led by Fico's former colleague and prime minister Peter Pellegrini, could also support a potential PS-led coalition if negotiations with SMER fail. Fico's pledge, however, may have limited practical impact as analysts say Slovakia has already provided much of what it could spare.

Persons: Robert Fico, Radovan Stoklasa, Fico, Zuzana Caputova, Progresivne Slovensko, Fico's, Peter Pellegrini, Reuters Graphics Fico, Viktor Orban, Pellegrini, Jason Hovet, Jan Lopatka, Andrew Heavens, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: REUTERS, Ukraine Won, Russian Slovak National Party, SNS, SMER, Reuters Graphics, European Union, Russia's, Hungarian, Law and Justice, Brussels, NATO, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Bratislava, Slovakia, Ukraine, Progressive Slovakia, SMER, Russian, Hungary, European, Russia, Europe, Slovak

☆ Kyiv brushes off US, Slovakia wobbles as EU ministers come to town
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Olena Harmash | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/3] Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and European Union Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell shake hands before EU-Ukraine foreign ministers meeting, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine October 2, 2023. Monday's meeting in Kyiv was touted by Borrell as an historic first, and provided striking photo opportunities for a succession of ministers in front of EU flags in the war-time capital. Several high profile right-wing Trump supporters in Congress have called for a halt to Ukraine aid. President Joe Biden's administration says it expects the House to pass a measure to keep aid to Ukraine flowing. In Europe, pro-Russian former prime minister Fico won the most votes in an election in Slovakia on Sunday and will get a first chance to form a government.

Persons: Dmytro Kuleba, Josep Borrell, Robert Fico, Kuleba, Annalena Baerbock, Dmitry Peskov, Donald Trump, Kevin McCarthy, Joe Biden's, Biden, Fico, Russia's Peskov, Peter Graff, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Ukrainian Foreign, Union Foreign, EU, Press, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of, REUTERS Acquire, Russian, U.S . Congress, U.S, Congressional, Borrell, Kyiv, German, Republican, Trump, Congress, Republicans, Democrats, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Handout, Germany, Russia, KYIV, Slovakia, United States, Russian Slovakian, Moscow, Washington, America, Europe, Russian, NATO

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Kyiv reacts to U.S. halting aid amid funding crisis; Ukraine ally sees pro-Russia populist win vote
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

There were more signs of vulnerability in Ukraine's relationships with its international partners over the weekend, following a key vote in neighboring Slovakia and the United States' halt on funding for Kyiv. Ukraine was trying to be optimistic in the face of a potential U.S. government shutdown and 45-day pause on additional funding for Kyiv that was part of a stopgap bill agreed at the weekend. Meanwhile, a pro-Russian, populist party has won the most votes in a parliamentary election in Slovakia, casting into doubt the country's future support for ongoing military aid for Ukraine.

Organizations: Kyiv Locations: Slovakia, United States, Ukraine

☆ Ukraine wobbles, 40 days after Wagner death and SBF’s trial
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Ukraine gets left behind on two fronts as Congress avoids a shutdown by stripping funding for Kyiv and Ukraine’s neighbour Slovakia elects a pro-Russian candidate, who has vowed to end its support. The trial of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried begins this week, as does Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. Further ReadingEU ministers convene in Ukraine to show support after US, Slovakia wobblesSam Bankman-Fried's fraud trial: How will he defend himself? Donald Trump's business empire in peril as civil fraud trial opens in New YorkOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Fried, Donald Trump’s, Travis Kelce’s, Donald Trump's Organizations: Apple, Google, Reuters, Ukraine, Kyiv, Thomson, Reading Locations: Ukraine’s, Slovakia, Karabkh, London, Ukraine, New York

☆ Opinion: The US Congress, Slovakian voters just threw Ukraine under the bus
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( David A. Andelman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

David A. Andelman CNNBoth appear to have thrown Ukraine and its war with Russia under the bus. Nationwide, Fico himself was the largest single vote-getter, while three of the top five are members of his anti-Ukraine party. They said they’re going to support Ukraine in a separate vote,” Biden said. Only 52% of French voters and 49% of German voters are in favor of offering EU membership to Ukraine. Quick action by Congress is needed to stem further erosion — or even the possible collapse — of determined support for Ukraine across the western democracies.

Persons: David A, CNN —, Vladimir Putin, Robert Fico, Fico, Michal Šimečka, Volodymyr Zelensky, Antony Blinken, Lloyd Austin —, Zelensky, Joe Biden, Republicans –, ” Biden, “, Viktor Orban, “ Guess, ” Orban, Tomas Benedikovic, ” Fico, Orban —, Mateusz Morawiecki, ” Poland’s, Donald Tusk, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Putin, Marine Le, Turkey, Hungary’s Orban, Slovakia’s Fico, waffling Organizations: CNN, French Legion of, The New York Times, CBS News, Russian, Russia, Nationwide, Ukraine Progresivne, Ukraine, United Nations General Assembly, Republicans, Putin, Slovak, Getty, European Union, NATO, Law, Justice Party, Polsat, European Council, Social Democratic, National Rally, Kremlin, Congress Locations: Slovakia, Ukraine, Russia, Russian, Fico, Washington, New York, Bratislava, Hungary, AFP, Luhansk, Poland, Europe, Germany, France, Sweden, United States

☆ Republican blockade of Ukraine aid and Slovakia’s election play into Putin’s hands
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Fico anchored his campaign on his anti-US rhetoric, vows to stop sending weapons to Ukraine and a pledge to thwart Kyiv’s NATO ambitions. The GOP tide against Ukraine gathers strengthZelensky’s visit to Washington to shore up Ukraine aid last month looks prescient. At Republican campaign events, voters often voice antipathy to sending billions of dollars to Ukraine, and polls show rising public skepticism. Still, for now, there is a bipartisan Washington majority in favor of Ukraine aid, although the chaos in the GOP raises questions about how it will be delivered. So we’ve got to find a way that we can do this together.”But if McCarthy is toppled and replaced by a more radical speaker, Ukraine could run out of luck.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy didn’t, Joe Biden, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelensky, Biden, McCarthy, Robert Fico’s, Fico, –, Putin, Donald Trump, Fico’s, Trump, embolden Putin, “ Putin, Mike Quigley, “, ”, Matt Gaetz, Marjorie Taylor Greene, “ Joe Biden, Dmytro Kuleba, ” Kuleba, “ They’re, we’ve Organizations: CNN, Russia, Ukraine, Republican, NATO, Ukraine –, Kyiv, Brexit, “, Soviet MiG, European Union, GOP, Democratic, Illinois, Congressional Ukraine Caucus, Democrat, Rep, Trump Georgia Rep, Foreign, CBS, Trump Locations: Ukraine, Slovakia, US, Poland, Warsaw, Western, Kyiv, France, Germany, “ Slovakia, Slovakian, Russia, Soviet, United States, Turkey, Sweden, Moscow, Czechoslovakia, Soviet Union, Bratislava, Washington, Biden’s, Florida, ” Ukraine

BUDAPEST/PRAGUE, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Robert Fico's election win in Slovakia after he had campaigned to end military aid to Ukraine shows creeping discontent in Central Europe over the war with Russia, but analysts do not expect a major policy turn-around by Bratislava or Warsaw. Fico's victory in Saturday's election prompted concerns that his new government would see NATO-member Slovakia joining Hungary in challenging the European Union's consensus on support for Ukraine. However, analysts do not see a big policy switch regarding Ukraine in Slovakia and Poland. MODERATING EFFECTIn Slovakia, Fico's SMER-SSD party won the election with 23% of the vote. "The bigger challenges are not Slovakia, or Hungary but the U.S. election cycle and the impact that has on support for Ukraine."

Persons: Robert Fico's, Fico, Viktor Orban, Roger Hilton, Fico's, Peter Pellegrini, Samuel Abraham, Robert Fico, Zuzana Caputova, Radovan Stoklasa, Pellegrini, Abraham, legitimise, Orban, Mujtaba Rahman, Rahman, Krisztina, Jan Lopatka, Angus MacSwan Organizations: NATO, SNS, Republika, REUTERS, EU, Russia, Ukraine, Reuters, Eurasia, Thomson Locations: BUDAPEST, PRAGUE, Slovakia, Ukraine, Central Europe, Russia, Bratislava, Warsaw, Hungary, Russian Poland, Saturday's, Poland, GLOBSEC, SMER, Brussels, Budapest, Kyiv, Europe, Prague

☆ Will Ukraine support suffer under Fico's Slovakia?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Reuters Editorial | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PoliticsWill Ukraine support suffer under Fico's Slovakia? PostedRobert Fico's election win in Slovakia after he had campaigned to end military aid to Ukraine shows creeping discontent in Central Europe over the war with Russia, but will he pull the pin on supporting the conflict? Sean Hogan explains.

Persons: Robert Fico's, Sean Hogan Organizations: Will, Fico's Locations: Will Ukraine, Fico's Slovakia, Slovakia, Ukraine, Central Europe, Russia

☆ Robert Fico, pro-Russian Slovak political heavyweight wins another election
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Jan Lopatka | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] SMER-SSD party leader Robert Fico walks outside his party's headquarters on the day of the country's early parliamentary election in Bratislava, Slovakia, September 30, 2023. Fico, who analysts see inspired by Hungary's Viktor Orban, has said he has Slovak interests at heart and wants the war to end. Born to a working-class family, Fico graduated with a law degree in 1986 and joined the then-ruling Communist party. "He became the most prominent political representative of a movement against face masks or vaccination," said political analyst Grigorij Meseznikov. Fico also swatted away accusations of graft that have dogged his party during his political career.

Persons: Robert Fico, Eva Korinkova, Michal Vasecka, Fico, Hungary's Viktor Orban, Viktor Orban, Zuzana Caputova, George Soros, Jan Kuciak, Martina Kusnirova, SMER, Grigorij Meseznikov, Jan Lopatka, Michael Kahn, Michael Perry Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, European Union, Institute, Ukraine, NATO, Reuters, Communist, European Court, Human Rights, Democracy, Thomson Locations: Bratislava, Slovakia, Rights BRATISLAVA, European, Brussels, Europe, Ukraine, Russia, Hungary, Hungarian, France, Germany

According to preliminary results released by Slovakia’s Statistical Office at 6 a.m. local time, Robert Fico’s populist SMER party won 23.3% of the vote. While in opposition, Fico became a close ally of Hungary’s Prime Minister Victor Orban, especially when it came to criticism of the European Union. Fico previously served as Slovakia’s prime minister for more than a decade, first between 2006 and 2010 and then again from 2012 to 2018. Kuciak reported on corruption among the country’s elite, including people directly connected to Fico and his party SMER. In the Czech Republic, which used to form one country with Slovakia, 71% of people blame Russia for the war.

Persons: Robert Fico’s, Fico, upend, Peter Pellegrini, Hlas, ”, Pellegrini, Slovakia “, “, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Victor Orban, Orban, Jan Kuciak, Martina Kušnírová, Kuciak, Věra Jourová, GlobSec, – Organizations: CNN, Kremlin, NATO, Slovakia’s, SMER, Progressive, Ukrainian, Ukraine, European Union, Russia, Hungary’s, European, Justice, Kyiv Locations: Slovakia, Ukraine, Progressive Slovakia, Slovak, Kyiv, Brussels, Russia, Bratislava, Baltic, Czech Republic, States

☆ Slovak Party PS Says It Will Still Try to Form Coalition After Fico Win
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

BRATISLAVA (Reuters) - Liberal party Progresivne Slovensko (Progressive Slovakia, PS), which won the second highest number of votes in a Slovak parliamentary election, still sees an option to form a ruling coalition, its leader Michal Simecka said on Sunday. Simecka, speaking after the Saturday election, said PS would do what it can to prevent vote winner SMER-SSD from forming a government. "SMER-SSD won the election, we of course respect that," Simecka told a news conference. And it would be even worse news if Robert Fico succeeds in forming a government,” he added. "We will do everything...so that Robert Fico does not rule in Slovakia."

Persons: Progresivne Slovensko, Michal Simecka, Robert Fico, Simecka, ”, SMER, HLAS, Jan Lopatka, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Liberal Locations: BRATISLAVA, Progressive Slovakia, Ukraine, Slovakia

☆ Slovak party PS says it will still try to form coalition after Fico win
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BRATISLAVA, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Liberal party Progresivne Slovensko (Progressive Slovakia, PS), which won the second highest number of votes in a Slovak parliamentary election, still sees an option to form a ruling coalition, its leader Michal Simecka said on Sunday. Simecka, speaking after the Saturday election, said PS would do what it can to prevent vote winner SMER-SSD from forming a government. "SMER-SSD won the election, we of course respect that," Simecka told a news conference. And it would be even worse news if Robert Fico succeeds in forming a government,” he added. "We will do everything...so that Robert Fico does not rule in Slovakia."

Persons: Progresivne Slovensko, Michal Simecka, Robert Fico, Simecka, ”, SMER, HLAS, Jan Lopatka, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Liberal, Thomson Locations: BRATISLAVA, Progressive Slovakia, Ukraine, Slovakia

☆ Pro-Russian ex-PM Fico wins Slovak election, needs allies for government
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Robert Fico, former Slovak prime minister and lead candidate of the SMER political party, arrives at SMER headquarters at the Slovak parliamentary elections on September 30, 2023 in Bratislava, Slovakia. Slovakia's leftist former Prime Minister Robert Fico beat his progressive rival in a parliamentary election after campaigning to end military aid to Ukraine, but he will need to win over allies to form the next government, nearly complete results showed on Sunday. With 98% of voting districts reporting in the Saturday election, Fico's SMER-SSD party led with 23.37% of the vote. Former Fico colleague and leftist HLAS leader Peter Pellegrini kept his options open on future coalitions. It would also signal a further shift in the region against political liberalism, which may be reinforced if conservative PiS wins an election in Poland later this month.

Persons: Robert Fico, Fico's, Peter Pellegrini, Fico, Robert Kalinak Organizations: Slovak, Progressive, NATO, Ukraine Locations: Slovak, Bratislava, Slovakia, Ukraine, Progressive Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Brussels

☆ Slovakia's Pro-Russia former PM Fico wins election
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Reuters Editorial | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PoliticsSlovakia's Pro-Russia former PM Fico wins electionPostedSlovakia's Robert Fico, who won an election after pledging to end military aid to Ukraine, was in pole position to start talks on forming a government on Sunday while a liberal rival vowed to seek partners to prevent the former leftist prime minister's return to power. Rachel Graham reports.

Persons: PM Fico, Robert Fico, Rachel Graham Organizations: Slovakia's, Russia, PM Locations: Ukraine

☆ Slovakia's Fico: border checks with Hungary a priority for new government
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SMER-SSD party leader Robert Fico arrives to the party's headquarters, after the country's early parliamentary elections, in Bratislava, Slovakia, October 1, 2023. REUTERS/Eva Kornikova Acquire Licensing RightsBRATISLAVA, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Slovakia needs to restart border controls with Hungary to stem the flow of illegal migrants, election winner Robert Fico said on Sunday, flagging the issue as one of his potential government's first priorities. Fico campaigned strongly against illegal migration in the run-up to Saturday's election, criticising a caretaker government for not doing more and for not suspending Europe's Schengen "open border" rules. The three-time former prime minister said controls were needed all along Slovakia's border with Hungary. "One of the first decisions of the government must be an order renewing border controls with Hungary," Fico told a news conference.

Persons: Robert Fico, Eva Kornikova, Fico, Viktor Orban, Jan Lopatka, Jason Hovet, Michael Kahn 私 Organizations: REUTERS, Rights Locations: Bratislava, Slovakia, Rights BRATISLAVA, Hungary, Germany, Europe, East, Afghanistan, Serbia

☆ Robert Fico, Pro-Russian Slovak Political Heavyweight Wins Another Election
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

Fico, who analysts see inspired by Hungary's Viktor Orban, has said he has Slovak interests at heart and wants the war to end. Born to a working-class family, Fico graduated with a law degree in 1986 and joined the then-ruling Communist party. Polling under 10%, Fico once sought to address voter fears during the coronavirus pandemic when he slammed government health measures. "He became the most prominent political representative of a movement against face masks or vaccination," said political analyst Grigorij Meseznikov. Fico also swatted away accusations of graft that have dogged his party during his political career.

Persons: Jan Lopatka, Robert Fico, Michal Vasecka, Fico, Hungary's Viktor Orban, Viktor Orban, Zuzana Caputova, George Soros, Jan Kuciak, Martina Kusnirova, SMER, Grigorij Meseznikov, Michael Kahn, Michael Perry Organizations: European Union, Institute, Ukraine, NATO, Reuters, Communist, European Court, Human Rights, Democracy Locations: Jan Lopatka BRATISLAVA, European, Brussels, Europe, Slovakia, Bratislava, Ukraine, Russia, Hungary, Hungarian, France, Germany

☆ Slovakia's election could turn Ukraine's stanchest supporter into a Kremlin ally
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The frontrunner, former Prime Minister Robert Fico, has made no secret of his affinity for the Kremlin during the election campaign. Fico’s left-wing populist SMER party has been leading for months, although opinion polls published earlier this week showed SMER neck-and-neck with the Progressive Slovakia (PS) party. “The approach to Russian war in Ukraine is a divisive line (in the election),” she said. It is also far from certain that the leader of the biggest party will become the prime minister. While in opposition, Fico has also become a close ally of Hungary’s Prime Minister Victor Orban, especially when it comes to criticism of the European Union.

Persons: Robert Fico, Slovakia’s, Zuzana Čaputová, Fico’s, Michal Šimečka, Věra Jourová, ”, Peter Pellegrini, Pellegrini, Fico, Ján Kuciak, Martina Kušnírová, Russia ”, OLaNO, Kyiv’s, “, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Victor Orban, Orban Organizations: CNN, European Union, Kremlin, NATO, Progressive, EU, Kyiv, West ., “, Coalition, Republika, Russia, ”, and Solidarity Party, Independent, Ukraine Fico, Hungary’s, Justice Locations: Ukraine, NATO, American, Progressive Slovakia, Slovakia, “ Slovakia, Russia, Russian, Brussels

☆ Police fined a car owner after a speed camera appeared to show a dog behind the wheel
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A photograph taken by a speed camera in Slovakia appeared to show a dog behind the wheel of a car. Police said the vehicle owner claimed that his dog had suddenly jumped onto his lap. AdvertisementAdvertisementPolice in Slovakia have fined the owner of a car after a speed camera appeared to show a dog behind the wheel. The image captured by a speed camera appears to show only a dog in the driver's seat. AdvertisementAdvertisementA 31-year-old man, who was actually driving the vehicle, claimed that his dog had suddenly leapt onto his lap, according to the police.

Persons: —, hadn't Organizations: Police, Service, Facebook, USA Locations: Slovakia, Šterusy

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