Former Prime Minister Robert Fico arrives to his celebration’s headquarters after polling stations closed for an early parliamentary election, in Bratislava, Slovakia, on Saturday.

Darko Bandic/AP

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Darko Bandic/AP

Former Prime Minister Robert Fico arrives to his celebration’s headquarters after polling stations closed for an early parliamentary election, in Bratislava, Slovakia, on Saturday.

Darko Bandic/AP

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — A populist former prime minister and his leftist celebration received parliamentary elections in Slovakia, staging a political comeback after campaigning on a pro-Russian and anti-American message, in keeping with nearly full outcomes.

With outcomes from 99.2% of some 6,000 polling stations counted by the Slovak Statistics Office early Sunday, former Prime Minister Robert Fico and the leftist Smer, or Direction, celebration led with 23.3% of the votes.

The election Saturday was a take a look at for the small japanese European nation’s assist for neighboring Ukraine in its struggle with Russia, and the win by Fico may pressure a fragile unity within the European Union and NATO.

Fico, 59, vowed to withdraw Slovakia’s navy assist for Ukraine in Russia’s struggle if his try to return to energy succeeded.

The nation of 5.5 million individuals created in 1993 following the breakup of Czechoslovakia has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine since Russia invaded final February, donating arms and opening the borders for refugees fleeing the struggle.

With no celebration successful a majority of seats, a coalition authorities will must be shaped. The president historically asks an election’s winner to attempt to kind a authorities, so Fico is more likely to develop into prime minister once more. He served as prime minister in 2006-2010 and once more in 2012-2018.

A liberal, pro-West newcomer, the Progressive Slovakia celebration, was a distant second, with 17% of the votes.

The left-wing Hlas (Voice) celebration, led by Fico’s former deputy in Smer, Peter Pellegrini, was in third with 15%. Pellegrini parted methods with Fico after Smer misplaced the earlier election in 2020, however their attainable reunion would increase Fico’s probabilities to kind a authorities.

Another potential coalition associate, the ultranationalist Slovak National Party, a transparent pro-Russian group, obtained 5.7%.

Those three events would have a parliamentary majority in the event that they joined forces in a coalition authorities.

Fico opposes EU sanctions on Russia, questions whether or not Ukraine can pressure out the invading Russian troops and needs to dam Ukraine from becoming a member of NATO.

He proposes that as a substitute of sending arms to Kyiv, the EU and the U.S. ought to use their affect to pressure Russia and Ukraine to strike a compromise peace deal.

Fico’s critics fear that his return to energy may lead Slovakia to desert its course in different methods, following the trail of Hungary beneath Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and to a lesser extent of Poland beneath the Law and Justice celebration.

Hungary has been sanctioned by the EU for alleged rule-of-law violations and corruption, whereas EU establishments say Poland has been on a slippery slope away from the EU’s rule-of-law rules. Fico has threatened to dismiss investigators from the National Criminal Agency and the particular prosecutor who offers with probably the most critical crimes and corruption.

Hungary additionally has — uniquely amongst EU nations — maintained shut relations with Moscow and argued towards supplying arms to Ukraine or offering it with financial help.

Fico repeats Russian President Vladimir Putin’s unsupported declare that the Ukrainian authorities runs a Nazi state from which ethnic Russians within the nation’s east wanted safety. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is Jewish and misplaced family members within the Holocaust.

Known for foul-mouthed tirades towards journalists, Fico additionally campaigned towards immigration and LGBTQ+ rights.

The populist Ordinary People group, the conservative Christian Democrats and the pro-business Freedom and Solidarity additionally received seats in parliament.