Slovakia's parliamentary elections have resulted in a win for former Prime Minister Robert Fico's Smer-SD party, running on a campaign platform that included no more military support for Ukraine and no more sanctions against Russia. Fico's party secured nearly 23 percent of the vote and will now begin discussions to replace the technocrat government that has been backing Kyiv against Russia's invasion. The likely parties to join the new coalition are the left-wing Hlas (Voice) party, which won 14.7 percent of the votes, and the pro-Russian ultranationalist Slovak National Party, which received 5.6 percent.

Fico's victory has raised concerns among critics about a potential shift in Slovakia's policies, echoing those of Hungary's nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has clashed with the EU over the Ukraine conflict and advocated for closer ties with Moscow. Orban even congratulated Fico on social media, expressing his enthusiasm for working with a fellow patriot. One of the key changes Fico has called for is the restarting of border controls with Hungary to stem the flow of illegal migrants. Fico campaigned heavily against illegal migration during the election and criticized the caretaker government for not doing enough to address the issue.

Slovakia has experienced an increase in illegal migration as migrants attempt to reach Germany and other Western European countries. Fico emphasized that force may be necessary to enforce strict border controls along the 655km border with Hungary. This shift in policy will not only have implications for Slovakia's position on Ukraine but could also affect its relationship with other European countries. Slovakia has been one of the staunchest supporters of Ukraine, providing military support and aid since the start of the war in 2014. With the change in government, questions arise about how much intelligence can be shared with Slovakia without jeopardizing transportation routes and potentially compromising Ukraine's security.

Fico's victory also raises concerns about Slovakia's stance on immigration. He is likely to push for anti-immigration policies to appeal to the working class, who perceive migrants as competition for jobs. This echoes similar sentiments expressed by other politicians in the region who have capitalized on the issue with voters. As Fico prepares to form a new government, he will need to seek alliances with other parties. The moderate leftist HLAS party, which came in third place, and the nationalist, pro-Russian Slovak National Party are potential coalition partners.

However, HLAS has expressed support for the EU's stance against the Ukraine invasion and highlighted the importance of ammunition supplies to Ukraine for Slovakia's defense industry. The liberal Progressive Slovakia party also plans to court HLAS, as they align on green policies, LGBT rights, deeper European integration, and human rights. Overall, Fico's electoral success marks a significant shift in Slovakia's policies, potentially aligning the country more closely with Hungary and Russia, and raising concerns about its stance on Ukraine and immigration. The upcoming coalition negotiations will shed more light on Slovakia's direction and potential consequences for European unity.