Slovak ruling coalition partners with far-right movement for regional elections

Slovakia’s ruling coalition—comprising Smer, Hlas, and the Slovak National Party (SNS)—has established its first formal electoral alliance with the far-right Republika movement to back candidate Peter Hambálek for governor in the Trnava region. The cooperation comes as Republika ranks third in national preference polls, despite recent scrutiny over controversial registration materials from its youth branch.

Simultaneously, the coalition experiences internal friction following parliament's dismissal of Environment Minister Tomáš Taraba, a move prompted by SNS leader Andrej Danko with opposition support. While analysts examine how Prime Minister Robert Fico might navigate the cabinet turmoil, reporting from Fico's hometown of Topoľčany indicates his core electorate continues to defend his leadership, attributing government instability to coalition partners or opposition parties.

Sources: Český rozhlas Plus, Denník N, iROZHLAS, Respect, Seznam Zprávy