Political polarisation in Slovakia: the 2024 presidential election in context

How did Slovakia’s politics and society become so polarised? The attempted assassination of the prime minister, Robert Fico, in May 2024 sent shockwaves across Europe. Fico’s opponents argue that his government is undermining the country’s democracy. Yet the government remains popular among in some quarters – as illustrated by the election in April of Fico’s ally, Peter Pellegrini, as president. This UI Report examines political divisions in Slovakia through focusing on that recent presidential election campaign. It analyses how societal divisions shaped the results and argues that the president’s office now must lead the way to reconciliation within the country.