Liberal party Progresivne Slovensko (Progressive Slovakia, PS), which won the second highest number of votes in a Slovak parliamentary election, still sees an option to form a ruling coalition, its leader Michal Simecka said on Sunday. Simecka, speaking after the Saturday election, said PS would do what it can to prevent vote winner SMER-SSD from forming a government. SMER-SSD, led by former prime minister Robert Fico, who campaigned on pledges to end military aid to Ukraine, won 22.94% of the vote, with results from 99.98% of voting districts counted on Sunday.
Slovakia holds a parliamentary election on Sept. 30 with issues like illegal migration and the war in neighbouring Ukraine polarising society. Robert Fico, a former prime minister whose SMER-SSD party tops polls, has pledged to defend national interests, end military support for Ukraine and oppose any sanctions on Russia that could hurt Slovakia.