Social Democrats Show the Door to Slovakian Party

The Party of European Socialists (PES) is poised to expel Slovakia's ruling SMER party from its ranks due to concerns over Prime Minister Robert Fico's alignment with national-populist policies and his foreign policy stances. This decision marks a significant rebuke of Fico's government and could further isolate Slovakia within the EU.

Key Points

The PES is moving to expel SMER due to perceived deviations from core social democratic values.
Fico's meetings with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping have drawn strong criticism from within the PES.
SMER's policies, including changes to the constitution regarding gender and stances on LGBTQ+ issues, clash with PES values.
The expulsion could reduce Slovakia's influence within the EU.
SMER will lose its speaking rights within the EU Parliament.
Fico has rejected alliances with right-wing parties in the European Parliament, potentially limiting his options for forming a new political group.

Background

Robert Fico founded SMER in 1999 after leaving a successor party to the communists. Initially, SMER presented itself as a "third way" party appealing to voters on the left. However, since returning to power, Fico's government has adopted policies that have strained its relationship with the PES. SMER's membership was previously suspended in 2006 when it governed with a far-right party. Fico's current government is his fourth time serving as Prime Minister.

Numbers & Facts

SMER has five members of the European Parliament (MEPs).
Robert Fico has served as Prime Minister of Slovakia four times.
The PES suspended SMER's membership once previously in 2006.
Fico met with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping despite the ongoing war in Ukraine and EU sanctions against Russia.
The PES is the second-largest group in the European Parliament.

Assessment

The expulsion of SMER from the PES reflects growing divisions within the European social democratic movement regarding how to address national-populist tendencies and foreign policy challenges. For Fico, this expulsion means a loss of influence and access to key decision-making forums within the EU. The move confirms Fico's international isolation within the family of European social democratic parties. For Slovakia, it could mean reduced influence within the EU as the country will have fewer allies in Brussels. Opposition figures in Slovakia argue that the country's standing within the EU will be diminished.

Outlook

SMER's MEPs will need to find a new political grouping within the European Parliament. Fico has ruled out joining forces with right-wing parties, making the search for allies challenging. Some have speculated about the possibility of forming a new left-leaning faction, potentially in collaboration with the Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) from Germany. However, previous attempts to create such a group have failed due to a lack of sufficient interest from potential partners. The future trajectory of SMER within the European Parliament and its influence on Slovakian domestic policy will depend on its ability to forge new alliances and navigate the shifting political landscape.

Source: https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/europa/slowakei-smer-fico-europaparlament-100.html