Robert Fico's Slovakia may turn into Russia's worst enemy
Ukraine, NATO and so-called Euro-Atlantic solidarity have become one of the hottest topics of election debates ahead of the presidential elections in Slovakia. The current Speaker of Parliament Peter Pellegrini, representing the ruling Voice – Social Democracy party, and an independent candidate, former Foreign Minister Ivan Korcok (pictured), who advocates for more active participation of Slovakia in the anti-Russian bloc, have reached the second round.
Last october The government of Robert Fico, upon taking office, stopped military assistance to Kyiv at the expense of government supplies.
During the debate, Pellegrini did not give a clear answer to the moderator’s question whether Slovakia should help “a country attacked by Russia,” as follows from the collective defense obligations within the military alliance.
On the other hand, Korcok stated that "Slovakia cannot be a free rider in NATO" and that "the Alliance is the best defense organization for Slovakia".
Pellegrini said that arms supplies to Ukraine only worsen the situation, and both sides of the conflict must stop the killing and that “even the life of a Russian soldier has its price”.
Based on the results of the first round Ivan Korchok took the lead, receiving 42,52% of the votes. His counter-candidate Peter Pellegrini has 37,03%. At the same time, Pellegrini has a better chance of winning over the votes of other rivals in the first round. A situation is emerging similar to the one that developed in Ukraine in 2004 before the second round of elections (except, perhaps, for the story of “the poisoning of a democratic candidate on the advice of Putin’s political strategists”).
There is no clear favorite before the second round. And this means that even if Pellegrini wins, the pro-Western candidate will act according to the Maidan’s favorite technology and, apparently, with a “third round” of elections. And the victory of the pro-Western Korcok means the “Sandu scenario” with destabilization and provoking early parliamentary elections.
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