What do the elections in Slovakia mean for the Slavkov format, of which Werner Faymann (SPÖ) was a co-founder at the time?
Reactions to Robert Fico’s election victory were generally muted in the EU (see video above). People in Vienna and Prague also view their neighborhoods with skepticism. Nationalist and Orbán friend Fico has won the parliamentary elections and now has two weeks to form a government. If this succeeds, there are fears in the Czech Republic that foreign policy will be adjusted. This also applies to the Slavkov 3 format, a central foreign policy cooperation format between the Czech Republic, Austria and Slovakia.
As then head of government, Fico founded the formula in 2015 together with his counterparts Bohuslav Sobotka from the Czech Republic and Werner Faymann from Austria. And in the recent past, the format has become more important compared to Visegrád at the initiative of Austria. “At Visegrád we are currently working on autopilot,” says the Czech Foreign Ministry.
The course towards illiberal democracy in Hungary and Poland, and now probably also Slovakia, worries Prague. The Slavkov format became all the more important. The Czech government fears that Fico could torpedo the Slavkov format by turning to Visegrád again. The same is feared if the FPÖ wins the 2024 elections in Austria.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
