2023 Slovak parliamentary election explained

Country:	Slovak Republic
Type:	parliamentary
Previous Year:	2020
Previous Election:	2020 Slovak parliamentary election
Next Year:	Next
Next Election:	Next Slovak parliamentary election
Seats For Election:	All 150 seats in the National Council
Majority Seats:	76
Opinion Polls:	Opinion polling for the 2023 Slovak parliamentary election
Turnout:	68.5% 2.7pp
Image1:	Robert Fico 854x1174.jpg
Leader1:	Robert Fico
Party1:	Direction – Social Democracy
Seats1:	42
Seat Change1:	4
Popular Vote1:	681,017
Percentage1:	23.0%
Swing1:	4.7 pp
Leader2:	Michal Šimečka
Party2:	Progressive Slovakia
Seats2:	32
Seat Change2:	32
Popular Vote2:	533,136
Percentage2:	18.0%
Swing2:	11.0 pp
Image3:	Peter Pellegrini 551x759.jpg
Leader3:	Peter Pellegrini
Party3:	Voice – Social Democracy
Seats3:	27
Seat Change3:	New party
Popular Vote3:	436,415
Percentage3:	14.7%
Swing3:	New party
Image4:	Igor Matovič after an interview (2020).jpg
Leader4:	Igor Matovič
Party4:	OĽaNO and Friends
Seats4:	16
Seat Change4:	49
Popular Vote4:	264,137
Percentage4:	8.9%
Swing4:	21.9 pp
Image5:	Milan Majerský.jpg
Leader5:	Milan Majerský
Party5:	Christian Democratic Movement
Seats5:	12
Seat Change5:	12
Popular Vote5:	202,515
Percentage5:	6.8%
Swing5:	2.1 pp
Image6:	Richard Sulík, 29 October 2022.jpg
Leader6:	Richard Sulík
Party6:	Freedom and Solidarity
Seats6:	11
Seat Change6:	2
Popular Vote6:	187,645
Percentage6:	6.3%
Swing6:	0.1 pp
Image7:	Andrej-Danko-2016.jpg
Leader7:	Andrej Danko
Party7:	Slovak National Party
Seats7:	10
Seat Change7:	10
Popular Vote7:	166,995
Percentage7:	5.6%
Swing7:	2.4 pp
Prime Minister
Before Election:	Ľudovít Ódor (acting)
Before Party:	Independent
After Election:	Robert Fico
After Party:	Smer

Early parliamentary elections were held in the Slovak Republic on 30 September 2023 to elect members of the National Council. Regular elections were scheduled to be held in 2024. However, on 15 December 2022 the government lost a no-confidence vote.^[1] Subsequently, the National Council amended the Constitution so that an early election could be held on 30 September 2023.^[2] This was the first snap election in the country since 2012.

The left-wing populist and social conservative Direction – Social Democracy (Smer-SD), led by former Prime Minister Robert Fico, emerged as the largest party, winning 42 seats. The social-liberal and pro-European Progressive Slovakia (PS) came in second, with 32 seats. Former Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini's social-democratic Voice – Social Democracy (Hlas-SD), which split from Smer-SD in 2020, came in third with 27 seats. The conservative OĽaNO and its allies won 16 seats, less than a quarter of their total in the 2020 election. The Christian-democratic Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) and the right-wing populist Slovak National Party (SNS) re-entered the National Council after failing to achieve the vote threshold in 2020, winning twelve and ten seats respectively. The classical liberal Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) won eleven seats, tying the 2012 election as their worst result since the party's founding.^[3]

As no single party or alliance reached the 76 seats needed for a majority, a coalition government was needed. A coalition government of Smer-SD, Hlas-SD, and SNS was formed. A new government with Robert Fico as prime minister was sworn in on 25 October 2023.

Background

Prior to the previous election, the Slovak Republic experienced a period of political turbulence, triggered by the murder of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová in 2018. The incident led to widespread protests and the resignation of then-Prime Minister Robert Fico.^[4]

The election itself was won by the movement of Ordinary People and Independent Personalities (OĽaNO) led by Igor Matovič. The party emerged as the victor, gaining over a quarter of the popular vote, which translated to 53 seats in the 150-seat National Council. OĽaNO formed a coalition government with several other parties, ending the long-standing dominance of Direction – Social Democracy (SMER–SD).^[5]

Electoral system

The 150 members of the National Council were elected by proportional representation in a single nationwide constituency with an electoral threshold of 5% for single parties, 7% for coalitions of two or three parties, and 10% for coalitions of four or more parties. The election used the open list system, with seats allocated using largest remainder method with Hagenbach-Bischoff quota, a variant of the D'Hondt method.^[6] Voters were able to cast up to four preferential votes for candidates of the selected party.^[7]

All citizens of the Slovak Republic were allowed to vote except for citizens under 18 years of age, felons in prison convicted of serious offenses, and people declared ineligible to perform legal acts by court. Voters abroad on election day were allowed to vote by mail.^[8] All citizens 21 years of age or older on the election day and are permanent residents of Slovakia, were allowed to run as candidates except for prisoners, convicted felons, and those declared ineligible to perform legal acts by court.^[9] All participating parties must register 90 days before election day and pay a deposit of €17,000 which would be refunded to all parties gaining at least 3% of the votes.

Voters not present in their electoral district at the time of the elections were allowed to request a voting certificate (voličský preukaz), which allowed them to vote in any district regardless of their residency. Voters abroad on election day were allowed to request a postal vote. According to the Central Election Committee, approximately 72,000 citizens of the Slovak Republic living abroad had requested a postal vote for the election. The deadline for requests passed on 9 August 2023.

Political parties and lead candidates

See main article: List of members of the National Council of Slovakia, 2020–2023.

List! colspan="3" rowspan="2"
Votes (%)	Main ideology	Lead candidate	Seats	Seats
Party	Main ideology	Lead candidate	Previous election (2020)		2023
3		Progressive Slovakia	PS	Liberalism	Michal Šimečka
5		OĽaNO–Christian Union–For the People	OĽaNO–KÚ–ZĽ	Conservatism	Igor Matovič
16		Direction – Social Democracy	Smer	Social democracy
17		Voice – Social Democracy	Hlas	Social democracy	Peter Pellegrini	—	—

Television debates

2023 Slovak parliamentary election
Date	Broadcasters	<																									----> <	---->
		OĽANO	Smer–SD	SR	ĽSNS	PS	D	SaS	KDH	Aliancia	MF	SNS	Modrí, Híd	Hlas–SD	REP	Piráti	PRINCÍP	SOS	KSS	VB		SHO		SRDCE	SDKÚ-DS	KARMA

3 Sep 2023^[10]	JOJ 24 (150th candidates)	P	P	P	NI	A	NI	P	P	NI	NI	P	NI	A	P	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI
19 Sep 2023	Jednotka/RS	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	S	S	NI	P	NI	NI	P	NI	NI	P
20 Sep 2023^[11]	TV JOJ/JOJ 24	P	NI	P	NI	NI	NI	NI	P	NI	NI	P	NI	NI	P	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI
20 Sep 2023	Jednotka/RS	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	P	NI	NI	P	NI	P	P	NI	NI	P	NI
21 Sep 2023	TV JOJ/JOJ 24	NI	P	NI	NI	P	NI	P	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	P	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI
21 Sep 2023	Jednotka/RS	NI	NI	NI	S	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	S	NI	S	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	S	NI	NI
22 Sep 2023^[12]	TV Markíza	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	S	P	NI	P	P	P	NI	NI	NI	P
23 Sep 2023^[13]	TV Markíza	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	P	NI	NI	P	NI	NI	NI	P	S	P	NI
24 Sep 2023^[14]	TV Markíza	NI	NI	NI	S	NI	S	NI	NI	P	P	NI	P	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI
25 Sep 2023^[15]	Jednotka/RS	P	NI	NI	NI	NI	S	NI	NI	S	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI
25 Sep 2023^[16]	TA3	S	NI	S	NI	NI	NI	NI	P	P	NI	P	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI
25 Sep 2023^[17]	TV Markíza	P	A	P	NI	P	NI	P	P	NI	NI	P	NI	S	P	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI
26 Sep 2023 (cancelled)^[18]	~~TV Markíza~~	N	N	NI	NI	N	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	N	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI
26 Sep 2023^[19]	Jednotka/RS	NI	NI	S	NI	NI	NI	S	S	NI	NI	P	NI	NI	S	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI
26 Sep 2023^[20]	TA3	NI	P	NI	NI	P	NI	P	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	P	P	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI
27 Sep 2023	Jednotka/RS	NI	P	NI	NI	P	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	P	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI	NI

Issues and developments

2023 election issues included high inflation, Slovakia's position on the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the related global energy crisis, COVID-19, internal fights within the previous government, corruption scandals and immigration;^[21] ^[22] questions of rights and values (particularly LGBTQ+ issues) were covered during the campaign by Al Jazeera English, BBC^[22] ^[23] and Pravda.^[24]

By the week of the election, popularity polls indicated that the two strongest parties were the Progressive Slovakia (led by pro-European Michal Šimečka, a member of the European Parliament (EP) since 2019, and EP Vice-President since 2022, who has committed to maintaining support for Ukraine) and Smer-SD (headed by Robert Fico, three-time former prime minister, who has committed to ending Slovakia's support for Ukraine); however, neither appeared to be commanding a majority, and the BBC projected neither would top 20% of the vote, so each would have to attempt to build a coalition with other parties to achieve the majority needed to rule. Consequently, as many as 10 parties could wind up in the government.

The third-largest party, which tipped the balance in favor of Robert Fico, is Hlas–SD (Voice), the moderate-left party of Peter Pellegrini (formerly of Smer-SD, and former prime minister, 2018–20).

Results

Results by region

Region	Smer–SD	PS	Hlas–SD	OĽaNO and Friends	KDH	SaS	SNS	Republic	Alliance	Democrats	We Are Family	People's Party Our Slovakia	KSS	Other parties
Region														Other parties
Bratislava Region	18.54	31.00	10.36	6.17	4.90	12.50	4.31	3.14	0.91	4.43	1.78	0.57	0.20	1.08
Trnava Region	22.01	17.07	12.11	9.40	4.56	5.36	4.43	4.38	12.69	2.92	2.19	0.81	0.40	1.56
Trenčín Region	29.47	16.63	16.40	5.93	5.44	5.63	7.28	5.45	0.03	2.84	2.22	1.06	0.46	1.03
Nitra Region	25.31	14.42	14.40	7.47	4.06	4.80	4.51	4.46	13.91	2.19	2.01	0.80	0.26	1.24
Žilina Region	25.79	15.51	16.04	6.90	9.38	5.56	8.11	5.61	0.02	2.80	2.02	0.96	0.34	0.89
Banská Bystrica Region	22.89	14.96	19.76	7.41	4.29	5.14	6.53	5.18	5.17	2.40	2.73	1.33	0.43	1.67
Prešov Region	22.04	10.83	16.16	14.78	14.07	4.10	5.73	5.22	0.07	2.65	2.36	0.63	0.31	0.98
Košice Region	21.10	14.68	15.08	13.46	6.80	5.74	4.38	4.97	5.44	2.98	2.75	0.76	0.33	1.41
Foreign	6.10	61.70	2.46	3.81	3.31	10.80	3.79	3.20	0.47	2.50	0.55	0.38	0.04	0.76

Total	22.94	17.96	14.70	8.89	6.82	6.32	5.62	4.75	4.38	2.93	2.21	0.84	0.33	1.16

Aftermath

As analysts predicted, Peter Pellegrini's Hlas-SD played the role of kingmaker in the "jockeying" that characterized the election's aftermath.^[25] Two viable coalitions emerged: one consisting of Fico's Smer-SD, Hlas-SD, and SNS; the other of Hlas-SD, PS, KDH, and SaS. On 2 October 2023, two days after the election, president Zuzana Čaputová tasked Robert Fico, as the leader of the now-largest parliamentary party, with forming a government within 14 days. On 3 October, she held "informal discussions" with PS's leader Michal Šimečka about the possibility of a PS-led coalition before meeting with Pellegrini and KDH's Milan Majerský. Following this meeting, Peter Pellegrini stated that his party was not ruling out either coalition.

According to SNS leader Andrej Danko, the ensuing negotiations revolved around Peter Pellegrini's future role. Robert Fico allegedly offered Pellegrini the role of Speaker of the National Council, while Michal Šimečka was willing to support Peter Pellegrini for Prime Minister in exchange for PS receiving the Ministry of the Interior.^[26] On 10 October, Hlas-SD announced that it had rejected PS's offer.^[27] ^[28] On 11 October, Smer-SD, Hlas-SD, and SNS ratified their coalition agreement, according to which they were to receive 6, 7, and 3 ministerial portfolios, respectively.^[29] ^[30] ^[31]

On 12 October, the Party of European Socialists (PES) suspended Smer-SD and Hlas-SD over their plans to enter into coalition with SNS, which the PES views as a "radical-right party."^[32] One week later, on 19 October, Zuzana Čaputová announced she would not approve the coalition government's nominee for Minister of Environment, Rudolf Huliak (SNS), due to his avowed climate change denialism. This delayed the swearing-in of the new government.^[33] ^[34] ^[35] After the coalition partners replaced Rudolf Huliak with Tomáš Taraba (SNS) as their nominee for the post, Zuzana Čaputová accepted the coalition's government. She swore in the new government, with Robert Fico at its helm, on 25 October.^[36] ^[37] ^[38]

Notes and References

Web site: Janiček . Karel . Slovak coalition government collapses after losing no-confidence vote in parliament . PBS . 28 January 2023 . 15 December 2022 . 8 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230208084503/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/slovak-coalition-government-collapses-after-losing-no-confidence-vote-in-parliament . live .
Web site: Kahn . Michael . 22 January 2023 . Lawson . Hugh . Slovakia's former coalition heads agree to early parliamentary elections . 24 September 2023 . Reuters . 30 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230930234304/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/slovakias-former-coalition-heads-agree-early-parliamentary-elections-2023-01-22/ . live .
Web site: 2023-09-18 . Výsledky predčasných volieb 2023 . 2023-10-01 . Denník N . sk-SK . 1 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231001061734/https://dennikn.sk/volby/vysledky/ . live.
Web site: 2018-03-15 . Slovak PM Robert Fico resigns . 2023-10-16 . POLITICO . en . Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico officially resigned Thursday, less than three weeks after the murder of an investigative reporter and his fiancée shocked the nation. . 15 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180315171933/https://www.politico.eu/article/robert-fico-resigns-slovakia-prime-minister/ . live .
Web site: 2020-02-29 . Výsledky parlamentných volieb 2020 . 2023-10-16 . SME . sk-SK . 29 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200229175532/https://volby.sme.sk/parlamentne-volby/2020/vysledky . live .
https://www.zakonypreludi.sk/zz/2014-180/znenie-20230604#p68 Slovak law 180/2014 § 68
Web site: Slovakia Národná rada (National Council) Electoral System. Inter-Parliamentary Union. 8 March 2016.
Web site: Voľba poštou, Ministerstvo vnútra SR - Verejná správa . sk . Ministry of the Interior . 14 December 2015.
News: 9 October 2015 . Prieskum: Voľby by vyhral Smer, OĽaNO-NOVA mimo parlamentu. sk . Pravda. 13 October 2015.
Web site: 2023-09-03. Prvá veľká predvolebná debata je tu! V diskusii sa stretne 9 kandidátov, aj Matovič, Hlina či Mazurek. 2023-09-22. Mediaklik.sk. sk. 22 September 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230922210308/https://www.mediaklik.sk/co-si-pustit/clanok/679836-prva-velka-predvolebna-debata-je-tu-v-diskusii-sa-stretne-9-kandidatov-aj-matovic-hlina-ci-mazurek/. live.
Web site: 2023-09-20. V televíziách sa začínajú hlavné predvolebné televízne diskusie. 2023-09-21. TASR. sk. 21 September 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230921215849/https://www.teraz.sk/parlamentne-volby-2023/v-televiziach-sa-zacinaju-hlavne-p/741894-clanok.html. live.
Web site: 2023-09-22. Krava do každej rodiny aj štát riadený umelou inteligenciou. Diskusný maratón na TV Markíza odštartoval prvou predvolebnou debatou. 2023-09-22. TV Markíza. sk. 25 September 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230925231831/https://tvnoviny.sk/domace/clanok/858694-krava-do-kazdej-rodiny-aj-stat-riadeny-umelou-inteligenciou-diskusny-maraton-na-tv-markiza-odstartoval-prvou-predvolebnou-debatou. live.
Web site: 2023-09-23. Kluby na pestovanie marihuany aj štvordňový pracovný týždeň. TV Markíza priniesla druhú predvolebnú debatu. 2023-09-23. TV Markíza. sk. 25 September 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230925195759/https://tvnoviny.sk/domace/clanok/858707-kluby-na-pestovanie-marihuany-aj-stvordnovy-pracovny-tyzden-tv-markiza-priniesla-druhu-predvolebnu-debatu. live.
Web site: 2023-09-25. Sledujte NAŽIVO: Predvolebná diskusia s predstaviteľmi politických strán. 2023-09-25. TV Markíza. sk. 28 September 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230928134520/https://tvnoviny.sk/domace/clanok/858769-sledujte-nazivo-predvolebna-diskusia-s-predstavitelmi-politickych-stran?campaignsrc=tn_clipboard. live.
Web site: 2023-09-25. Parlamentné voľby 2023 - diskusie. 2023-09-25. Radio and Television of Slovakia. sk. 25 September 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230925213832/https://www.rtvs.sk/televizia/archiv/20442/428153#173. live.
Web site: 2023-09-25. Superdebata: v ta3 sa stretli zástupcovia strán KDH, SNS, OĽANO a priateľov, Aliancie a Sme rodina. 2023-09-25. TA3. sk. 25 September 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230925195756/https://www.ta3.com/clanok/902569/superdebata-v-ta3-sa-stretli-zastupcovia-stran-kdh-sns-olano-a-priatelov-aliancie-a-sme-rodina. live.
Web site: 2023-09-25. Sledujte NAŽIVO: Lídri najsilnejších politických strán prezradili, o ktoré ministerstvá by mali po voľbách záujem. 2023-09-25. TV Markíza. sk. 25 September 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230925195751/https://tvnoviny.sk/domace/clanok/858774-sledujte-nazivo-lidri-najsilnejsich-politickych-stran-prezradili-o-ktore-ministerstva-by-mali-po-volbach-zaujem. live.
Web site: 2023-09-22. Markíza zrušila finálnu debatu pre bojkot Smeru a neúčasť Hlasu a PS, OĽaNO to považuje za "mafiánske praktiky". 2023-09-22. Denník N. sk. 22 September 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230922134225/https://dennikn.sk/3583242/markiza-zrusila-finalnu-debatu-pre-bojkot-smeru-a-neucast-hlasu-a-ps-olano-to-povazuje-za-mafianske-praktiky/. live.
Web site: 2023-09-26. Miesto ideológií v školstve, popieranie holokaustu či zavádzanie bankového odvodu. Aj o tom bola piata predvolebná diskusia RTVS. 2023-09-27. Radio and Television of Slovakia. sk. 27 September 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230927053825/https://spravy.rtvs.sk/2023/09/piata-predvolebna-diskusia-rtvs/. live.
Web site: 2023-09-26. Finálna Superdebata Voľby 2023. 2023-09-27. TA3. sk. 27 September 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230927163259/https://www.ta3.com/relacia/903125/finalna-superdebata-volby-2023. live.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/28/europe/slovakia-election-russia-supporter-intl-cmd/index.html "A NATO country could soon have a pro-Russian leader,"
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/27/slovakias-knife-edge-election-to-determine-stance-on-ukraine "Slovakia’s knife-edge election to determine stance on Ukraine,"
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66938694 "Ukraine war: Slovakia's Robert Fico eyes comeback in Saturday's election,"
News: Mogilevskaia . Anna . Sulík pre Pravdu: Pliagou Slovenska je silný štát, nie LGBTI. Po voľbách si viem predstaviť SaS vo vláde . Pravda . 1336-197X . Our Media SR . Bratislava . 2023-09-09 . 2023-09-23 . 4 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231004232503/https://spravy.pravda.sk/domace/clanok/680830-sulik-pre-pravdu-pliagou-slovenska-je-silny-stat-nie-lgbt-vo-vlade-mame-zaujem-o-rezorty-ktore-sme-doteraz-mali-spolupracu-viem/ . live .
News: Nicholson . Tom . Coalition jockeying revs up in Slovakia after Fico's victory . 10 October 2023 . Politico . 1 October 2023 . 1 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231001153622/https://www.politico.eu/article/slovakia-election-prime-minister-robert-fico-smer-hlas-patience-coalition/ . live .
News: Bilás . Zsuzsanna . Pellegrini nem kapkodja el a döntést, félidőnél jár a Smer kormányalakítási megbízása . 10 October 2023 . Napunk . 9 October 2023 . 12 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231012071414/https://napunk.dennikn.sk/hu/3614986/pellegrini-nem-kapkodja-el-a-dontest-felidonel-jar-a-smer-kormanyalakitasi-megbizasa/ . live .
News: Ibos . Emese . A Hlas elutasította a Progresszív Szlovákia ajánlatát. Már biztos, hogy Fico alakít kormányt . 10 October 2023 . Napunk . 10 October 2023 . 11 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231011013045/https://napunk.dennikn.sk/hu/3617552/a-hlas-elutasitotta-a-progressziv-szlovakia-ajanlatat-mar-biztos-hogy-fico-alakit-kormanyt/ . live .
News: Slovakian kingmaker backs Fico coalition, vows foreign policy continuity . 10 October 2023 . Reuters . 10 October 2023 . 11 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231011012251/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/slovakias-hlas-party-prefers-forming-government-with-ex-pm-fico-2023-10-10/ . live .
News: Nicholson . Tom . Hülsemann . Laura . New government emerges in Slovakia, with Robert Fico as prime minister . 11 October 2023 . Politico . 11 October 2023 . 11 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231011164104/https://www.politico.eu/article/slovakia-robert-fico-elections-as-prime-minister/ . live .
Web site: Hancock . Sam . Slovakia elections: Populist winner signs deal to form coalition government . BBC News . 11 October 2023 . 25 October 2023.
Web site: Hovet . Jason . Slovakia's populist ex-PM Fico seals coalition deal for new government . Reuters . 16 October 2023 . 25 October 2023.
News: Wax . Eddy . Barigazzi . Jacopo . Jochecová . Ketrin . 12 October 2023 . European socialists suspend Robert Fico's Smer party and its ally Hlas . live . 12 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231012163715/https://www.politico.eu/article/european-socialists-suspent-robert-fico-smer-hlas-party/ . 12 October 2023.
News: Jochecová . Ketrin . Slovakia's president refuses to back climate change denier as environment minister . 25 October 2023 . Politico . 19 October 2023.
Web site: Slovakia president rejects nomination of opponent of climate change policy as environment minister . AP News . 19 October 2023 . 25 October 2023.
Web site: Slovakia president sets condition to appoint ex-PM Fico's cabinet . 20 October 2023 . Reuters . 25 October 2023.
News: Jochacová . Ketrin . Robert Fico to become Slovakia's new prime minister . 25 October 2023 . Politico . 24 October 2023.
Web site: Slovakia swears in a new Cabinet led by a populist ex-premier who opposes support for Ukraine . AP News . 25 October 2023 . 25 October 2023.
Web site: Henley . Jon . Slovakia's new prime minister Robert Fico to attend EU summit . the Guardian . 25 October 2023 . 25 October 2023.