Millions of Slovaks go to the polls today. Darko Bandic / AP
The election in Slovakia
Researcher: People are tired of being in solidarity
At the outbreak of war, Slovaks welcomed Ukrainians with open hearts. Now - a year and a half later - the feelings have cooled. Refugees from the eastern neighboring country are no longer welcome, writes Dagens Nyheter.
When the country's future leadership is to be voted on today, it is also with two clear options: Should the country continue to support the Ukrainian defense, or should one support the party that insists that Russia is the good party in the context.
- Compared to last year, we are experiencing a kind of solidarity fatigue, says Jana Papcúnová, researcher at the country's Academy of Sciences in Kosice.
This has also distinguished itself in the opinion polls, which declared the pro-Russian Smer-SD as the preliminary favourite.
Former Prime Minister Robert Fico, left, and Liberal opponent Michal Simecka. AP
Slovak elections could decide the country's ties to Ukraine
Millions of Slovaks are going to the polls today in a parliamentary election that is said to be more uncertain than in a long time. The outcome of the election is expected to determine whether the country chooses to maintain its strong ties to Ukraine or whether the country begins to distance itself from the war-torn neighboring country. The election campaign is said to have been characterized by a large dose of misinformation.
Two parties look equally strong, writes AFP: left-wing Smer, with its populist leader Robert Fico, and Progressive Slovakia, a centrist party led by Michal Simecka, vice-president of the European Parliament.
- Wars are always started by the West. All initiatives for freedom and peace come from the East, said Robert Fico at an election meeting earlier this week, writes The Guardian.
Progressive Slovakia, on the other hand, states that they want to strengthen the country's connection to the EU and NATO.
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