Robert Fico, 59, is an opponent of navy support to Ukraine in its battle in opposition to the Russian invasion.
Bratislava:
Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico suffered a shock defeat in EU elections to the opposition liberals on Sunday, weeks after he was gravely wounded in an assassination try, his celebration stated.
Fico’s left-wing nationalist Smer-SD celebration expressed “congratulations to the winner of the election, Progressive Slovakia” and its new European parliament members, on its Fb web page.
Fico, 59, is an opponent of navy support to Ukraine in its battle in opposition to the Russian invasion.
The newest opinion polls had indicated that he was favorite to high the vote, in what was seen as an indication that the assassination bid had pushed up help for his celebration.
Progressive Slovakia (PS) gained 27.81 p.c of the votes in Sunday’s election, that means six seats within the European Parliament, in line with outcomes broadly reported in Slovak media forward of their official publication.
Smer-SD gained 24.76 p.c, yielding it 5 seats within the 720-member EU meeting.
Far-right celebration Republika got here third with 12.53 p.c and two seats, the outcomes confirmed.
Fico was shot 4 occasions at shut vary on Might 15 as he greeted supporters after a authorities assembly.
The alleged gunman, recognized by Slovak media as 71-year-old poet Juraj Cintula, has been charged with premeditated tried homicide and remanded in custody.
In a video launched on Wednesday, Fico blamed his opponents for fostering the “hatred” that led to the assault.
Political analyst Daniel Kerekes prompt the assault had mobilised PS supporters to vote simply as a lot as Smer-SD ones.
“It isn’t solely Smer-SD that has taken advantange of the assault. The opposition events, notably PS, whose voters are nervous concerning the state of affairs in Slovakia, have additionally made important progress,” he informed AFP.
PS chairman Michal Simecka, a former vice-president of the European Parliament, stated voters had a despatched “a vital message to this authorities: decelerate, since you can not do no matter you need.”
Turnout was greater than throughout earlier EU elections within the nation at slightly below 35 p.c.
(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is printed from a syndicated feed.)