Slovakia on Monday accused Russia of “interfering” in legislative elections held on Saturday and summoned a representative of the Russian embassy following statements by the head of Russia’s foreign intelligence, who spoke of Washington’s “interference” in Slovakia’s domestic politics. AFP reports.

President of Slovakia Zuzana ChaputovaPhoto: VLADIMIR SIMICHEK / AFP / Profimedia

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bratislava protested against the statements of Sergei Naryshkin (head of Russian intelligence), who “questioned the integrity of free and democratic elections in Slovakia,” and qualified these statements as “impermissible interference by the Russian Federation.” in the election process” in Slovakia.

Robert Fico’s Smer-SD, a conservative social democratic party, won about 23% of the vote in Saturday’s election, while President Zuzana Čaputová’s party, Progressive Slovakia (PS), won just over 17%. votes, with Vocea in third place, a moderate left-wing breakaway party from Smer-SD and led by former prime minister Peter Pellegrini, who will play a crucial role in forming a majority.

Pellegrini, who succeeded Fico as prime minister, has made it clear he would lean towards an alliance with him, although he is keeping his options open. The coalition led by Fico could include the nationalist Slovak National Party (SNS), which won almost 6% of the vote, as well as other small conservative-oriented parties that entered the new parliament, a highly fragmented legislative body. Therefore, Robert Fizo said that he does not expect the negotiations on the formation of the future government to last less than two weeks.

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