Hello and welcome to the program. Im emily and gwen. Slovakia is full. My left is Prime Minister robot feed, so has one sad todays parliamentary election. He stood on a platform critical of the a, you know, so and funding the war and ukraine is potty one. Nearly a quarter of the vote and a chance to form the next government. If he succeeds, it could main big changes for the nations Foreign Policy since russia launched as war last year. And i remember, as the bank here has supported ukraine, supplying weapons and welcoming refugees. Boss is that about to change . Well put back to our guests shortly. First, this report from when we consume sherry the 3 time former Prime Minister staging a political come back into the walk. Yeah. So what fits those left, his party to fight except both inside to these problem entry election secured in nearly 23 percent of the vote on a pro russian. And on to us campaign, the populace leader has doubled down on his stone. So in the military, a to ukraine and is now calling for talks to individual. So this quote was, you know, so theres a good while you wait, you probably have to but i, you know, so book you and people in slovakia have more Serious Problems than ukraine. Thats all i can say at this moment. We believe ukraine is a great tragedy for everybody, but that i gave you some error happens to form a government, no matter if it gets the post of the Prime Minister. We will do all that. We can also, within the, you to reach peace negotiations as soon as possible. I, i said so was suppose to step down in 2018 after the murder of an investigative journalist under his leadership walk. Here was a stone support, a few claim at the time of russia, amex ation of crimea in 2014 the. The problem government has also back keys up to the russian invasion last year. Is to dons and opened its bold as to ukrainian refugees. Voters have now supported a party thats promised to focus on domestic issues like the Energy Crisis and rising cost of living keys has led to choice. But to accept a seemingly changing reality. We respect the choice of the slovak people, but it is too early to say how the election result will affect the voc is position we need to wait for the formation of the coalition. And then looking at the composition of this coalition, we control the fis conclusions. Slovakia became an independent state in 1993 after the breakup of czechoslovakia. This problem into the election is being seen as a test if its for the policy fits those critics swati that is returned to pablo to bleats the bulky out to the same fathers hungry under Prime Minister victor lavonne straining times for the human nature. Let me put some charities for inside story. Lets take a quick look at where slovakia is located, the former soviet bloc. Communists nation is now a member of both the e. U and nato. And it shows a border with ukraine and with poland, which has played a major role in efforts to supply weapons to ukraine since russia invited to the south is hungry. Whos late as the old bon has welcomed 5th. So is when sharing some of his policies lets bring in august. Now when brought his lava is elena, could scar the Vice President of policy and programming of gloves, sick, a public policy, sink tank, and berlin bin. Iris found an editor in chief of b and e in telling use is also the form of Moscow Bureau chief for the daily telegraph. And also in brought his lava pebble at dement shape foremost still voc in a full foreign minister and advise it to the back is the 1st president after the breakup of czechoslovakia, a warm welcome to all of you and thank you for joining us on the program. Before we look at the broad, a geo political implications of the selection, i, one of those get your take a pebble on the results where you savant a surprised by feet. So is when a bit he does needs a form of coalition still. But what does that say about vases . In slovakia it was very tight election and one of those extremely important ones because they were deciding about the policy both at home and also for you and policy. Uh, also a lock key. Uh, uh and uh, on the last moment it was not clear whether hes going to win or not a 2nd progressive party, which happened to be the 2nd the all International Call me need to go to the quite the interesting these because uh the, these periods of turbulence, easy, new unit deal, the unity of natal to groupings of which slow lucky i as member all seems to files on for a show that there may be some crack that gain similar to hungry, which was already mentioned. But i think that the, todays announcement by about feats all lead there. I mean, when theyre of these election shows that he claim that there will be no change in Foreign Policy. Also like p r e o n, nate or men, but shape uh will be reality. But since hes language and last rather inflammatory during the election campaign, which helped him to come back for 4th time as brian me, the stuff caused all of these warranties, income portion. I would say that im like hungry, literally cut off on these very strong politician who is majority to be a better fit so it doesnt have majority strong majority. He will have to create a colleague, shawn comprising golf, at least 3 parties, and a 2nd, and show strong candidate, the former Prime Minister, bella, good evening yesterday that it clearly stated that he will join caution only on the circumstance that slack the palsy shown that these are the the and they told will not be changed. So i dont think that comparison to be non gary, these equities one. And we will see how ripped or x pre election rate tardies will be changed during government formation process. Wed start the today when the president was on the top with the law oscar on benefits of to come out with the hays proposal for 75. 00 plus members because the lucky i have spa man, the one turned her bottom. And going to the sting, go 150 deputies . Yes, i want to get onto the cold should before we look more closely into the role of slovakia, his name is atlanta, the shape of his next government and its policy towards ukraine and really dependent on the makeup of that coalition that is formed. How do you see that playing out of men central, but it fits so fast and 1st, but you need to deform the government as the window of the elections. She has a couple options on his table. Most likely, he will be able to form a coalition of 3 parties. The 2nd, the 3rd Largest Party lead, but felt that the la grange either last party will be decisive and the votes will be in this basketball. But they will also need a 3rd partner. But that can be either slowed up nationalist party, which is in its orientation, is more per russian and will definitely will be pushing more and based direction. But they also have an option to include the christian democratic party, which better to look at and prefers, which is more pro european and more moderates. A been one analyst in a broad as lava dominique. I had you said that some most voters, it wasnt primarily about ukraine in this selection. It was more about values, conservatism, and liberalism, and britain, body issues like food and fuel prices. Do you share that view . Yes, absolutely. Im looking at the essential your business to the values phone line that runs down the middle of it. And to the last in western your we have this sort of liberal European Values promotion and you called at c ginger rights and should be cheap rights. Whereas if he goes to the rice into what was Eastern Europe and then its much more based on sort of christian conservative, orthodox, timely values. Um and that is just sort of basic trash there between the 2 more obviously. So in the, in the elections, i mean, he was campaigning on, on the sort of things that the assessing countries, the new countries, essentially youre and theyre not as on board with the whole e u projects, the vines, as part of it, as of, as we are here in the west, i also the basic unit cost of living, the rising inflation, suprises, Energy Prices and these things are starting to hit the people in the bucket. And after a year and a half of this for this time, i get tired of that. Um, so theres a sudden fatigue going on with things besides to pebble and criminal spokesmen. Dmitri, pest golf is full costing. Will fatigue, is ben has just said wolf, fatiguing the west growing and increasingly splitting opinion. Does he have a point . I mean, were looking at billions of dollars in military aid, which has been provided by the west over the past 19 months. They basically ukraine, a war blade import and the rolling these elections. But as was said before, they were much more of these value of treatment and campaign, and conservative versus liberal and so on. I saw for their playing very Important Role. But the feats all was accusing the United States that he, together with the restaurant, basically that these was class between us and the rest found that he thought he of ukraine a be that the he was strongly against the sanctions against the russia, imposed by you and they dont and also i think that the, he was the then if you think of progress on sentiment which is rather pronounced the throughout sort of like society. But i dont think that that these, that slow like, yeah, we played such an Important Role in political humanitarian, economic, and military terms. These are the, you know, kind of these will disappear because slovakia is member of the red zone of intertwined economically. Weve, you bought over 80 percent of our export golf store. You saw that on that feed, so well be uh, well need to balance his policy needs. Id be ne, tall or i mean taking into consideration i remember she obligations and so on. So i dont think that he will just walk out of these. He will try to make his point to the negotiations, how to set the least call sleep. Or i would suggest that he does such a pragmatic piece that he will even be able to get out of it. And you will copy net which will and now im on the slide. Clean Government Manifesto at here is to you and natal. Some degree of cooperation also on for the military stands because to like us feel has besides car industry wide well developed military industrial just picking up on the pedal said feed so has doubled down on his pro russian stones. Hes opposed to sanctions, as weve just heard and wants to stall to aid to ukraine, atlanta. How else is he likely to show his support for moscow . You will see again, watchful, depends on the exact, the composition of the mall. Listen, but its also important to dig a little bit deeper, even in the comparative process. For example, if you just promise that she might potentially stall pull up, providing me look to her aid to ukraine. My Small Business early be as consequential as have since somebody has already provided me with a small to support for your brain in terms of military age. There is not that much. The slovak here has now installed, that could be given to ukraine. So even if this decision is actually gonna come to force, it does not necessarily mean that it will change the situation on the battlefields. But of course, the Political Union in the European Union mattress even put in. So indeed, across the power, it would mean that there will be more voices coming from central europe. The question support to your friend at the european level. And my extension, it will be more difficult for the your to reach consensus. Where are the decisions will be delayed and potentially whats her down . But again, we still need to see whether she delivers on shes companions promises. There are 2 points that i wanted to pick up. The elena on that firstly been element mentioned about the flow of arms, not necessarily changing to ukraine. A slovakia has already given most of what it can spare. It was the 1st country to provide you crime with 5 to jets and a defense and yourselves. So do you agree that the impact on the ground in ukraine via slovakia werent necessarily change . I think the, the issue of homes is a key one. Im, as you mentioned, i mean, most of the, the nights i, members of i c to preach the stocks. Uh so that they had available and it says, sense ukraine, theyre running out. I mean, that was just a defense for him and get the weekends where the talking about manufacturing the use of the promise to 1000000000. 00 to invest in some new production. And so, um there is a, i would probably say spring, any time that were ready running about. And consequently they have to get resolved. So somewhere by setting up more production and the stokes, the remaining in the nice are countries uh, the residuals folks. They need to protect themselves encased as more exposed escalates, and that becomes an eye on a compensation between 9. So in russia, which is the back of everybodys slide. So uh, i think in the short some you kind isnt difficult position, trying to search these items. But as i say, i think the west is actually run through the end of the road of what it had and stopped give you crime a noun, needs to invest in the production to make more munitions. And thats the process is already on. Got it. And then just as you mentioned, the west, how closely will it have been watching the selection . How . How was, how will the rest of us have been watching the selection on fold and what would they be making of it . Im very close the im, im in atlanta mention them in europe in unity is key here. And what surprised everybody was the level of unity that was in the u. S. The beginning of the war with sanctions 0 downward stream. And they brought down a lot of costs on western europe. As a result, restoring Energy Prices, the energy price we have is storing food prices. However, the longer this goes on and theres been more than 1919 months now, then the, the city is building. People are becoming tired of the costs and the selection as part of hawaii to move uh in your way. You can see some of the countries unhappy, they want the wards finish, discussing them too much money. And we have this result in, in the back here. But then, and hunger is already gone away, the greeks increasing the amount of oil and transporting for russia. And this, when the, you try splits are this 15 percent. And if she cuts the most of the countries time on, the said no. And the whole story was, was highlighted with the, with the grain crisis. We have recently way opponents, that i cant hungry find the in fluid or fuel, craning grand only hot currency on it because it collapsed to local markets. And so now increasing when you put this tension between the stand by ukraine, for political reasons, which everybodys on board was and then the interference and national interest, the damage is doing. So your economy, which people are unhappy about. And i think thats boots and scam, hes going to spin this war out for as long as it takes to wait for that unit seat to crumble. And weve seen a few cracks and thats what this actually result means. Its not a crack in the units, but its not broken yet. It hasnt broken. Yes, but its a, its a wide range the pedal. Speaking of those cracks, how can the west in gauge with feet. So and hes potential coalition and not lose slovakia to russia. Of the 2 points before i answer these questions. Slot, minister of defense being care, take a government and was being key if during weekend during these meeting go building new. Been that street for military purposes, which was the kia today a very so i may think of a 40 minute says ill be doing key events will back us 40 minutes that made us lot of laptops is being key a and declared the, the continuation of the board of slovakia to to ukraine and so long. And lastly the also you do you invest that to you train, cut that, you know, not that nobody sloan i go through show. So i think that for us these, these country which is up to buying dollar attention and these testing basically hall bobby on politics in slovakia, i believe that the there are 2 points which are going to show the seriousness of slovak you guys. And then there will be natal and as a reliable, and they to member and provide the less expense to ukraine and it will be a quality show creation. And what will be in government, money, festal, pen. Secondly, who will become our new funding and defense minister . Because my guess is that about feed, so well try not to put the dialogue about the rather professional on these 2 positions, which i believe well try to to dialogue the suspicion that slovakia is not the hung. Gary that survived the isaac country, which will be undermining unity of un natal. I just simply might of fee leads that uh uh, better feet saw and that hes colleagues from partners. Well try to fix some of these damages in perception of slovakia. In last. These i think that these image issue became quite obvious off the exit polls that released worship, which suggested that feats on last and the progressives, slovakia, one elections and when we woke up sunday morning think squared completely different seats all was leaving about 5 percent of them and he seemed to have such a strength that he could suggest simply divert countries into hong gary and way show. And there are a lot of things still to be confirmed in relation to the coalition and how that plays out. But i guess if i could return to my question, how best kenslow vonk yet engage with the west given that fits so has doubled down on his pro russian stance as early as today. I think that one can expect that the little better feed, so well try to prove that slovakia well continue to be boston or of you and natal. She will try to show some uh, sort of a suggestions. What that, how be should be brought in or something along that along those lines. But then i see you shaking your head. They did, you want to jump in . You know, i think its true and that is a, i think theres gonna lose stuff out here. So russia and asked option the it reminds me your country and bounce the and nobodys going to go over and support russia after this unprovoked invasion of the cranes as close to hundreds of thousands of tests. However, there is a subtle game here of how we actually, where the all france and thats still not clear because the positions between ukraine and russia are so far apart that they cant even begin stats ok. And so is stuck in the stone age and defined, seen on the ground as those that browns was found right. And is the worst possible scenarios and for the year came to their positions. I think everybodys looking for an upfront, some of some sort. And in the case of hungry is that accurate . Uh, they wants to see that happens sooner than anybody else because they have serious economic interests and suffering serious economic pain from this whole conflict. But were looking at heads here. I dont see if theres anything we can do. Im, as i say, for a european country, a European Union member to be cashed by russia is inconceivable. That was atlanta. As weve heard, slovakia hungry and soviet oil have shown significant sympathy for russian president person could. Poland and its up coming in next a upcoming election rather be next. Could we say the influence that the whole answer is a very different country and we can also compare them by looking at the public opinion. So before the world but also during the war in goal of support of sympathy toward the fresh it was very low historically, which is a different case in slovakia where between 30. 00 to 40. 00 or sometimes 50 percent of the products of slow. But i would say that they consider still russia as an important and Strategic Partner for the country. What school meant the future, they would like to have good relations in full on the situation. Is there a difference . Of course there are parts of the list aside. So you for equal in charge of the war and for wants to pressure the petitions to pay more attention to the Kitchen Table issues at home. But it does not necessarily mean that the for the fullest for and full of sit will change. But for a 2nd, i also want to go back to slide back here and then precise against the important point that the problem was making about ability or problems fits so to make compromises when they need. When she needs done, shell ready to go screaming is there for 3 times before and you. Ringback shes previous terms, we saw that she managed very skillfully to both be friends with russia, maintain very good relations with russia. And at the same time the a constructive partner they do level as well. For example, she supported sanctions to construction. So chances are she can do for magic again, and by the way, slow back, you said a lot to gain by be friends with your brain. And by having boots, relating good relations with your brain. So that can definitely wants to be part of the reconstruction of your brain. It will benefit significantly. You pretty much stronger at you calling me in the region from strong the logistical ties. But it would go back to the issue of you what the rest supplies. Theres a level of pragmatism there as well. Whats interesting is that hes going to stop military supplies to ukraine, probably many of the ones that are paid from this level of budget. But theres very Strong Military industry into the lot here who is manufacturing weapons for ukraine, which i think made by the external partners. So i think this pragmatism will also be applied in this case. As such types of contracts will be able to continue. Ready and i guess it also comes down to this idea of an open ended commitment. You know, as weve mentioned, its been 19 months since this war has been going on. Weve already seen france and other major European Countries opposed to that idea of an open ended commitment. So i mean, what i use for costing in terms of the, the next coming 6 months, 12 months span of both direct that question to you. And then the last couple the world will continue um witness to coming up to the end of the summer. And um i think both sides of medicaid that theyre going to continue finding in the winter which is extremely cold and will be difficult conditions. The prospects of any kind of ceasefire. I mean the, the start of the hazing season would be an actual blame to reassess the reports. Coming out of your brain about the progress of the counselor offensive that was like much heights have being very disappointing. Practice getting knowledge, her history has changed and it, so were talking about villages along the line of tongue sides. And theres not a prospect for any kind of breakthrough with that, which is what the concept of offensive was hoping for. Was a repeat of the spectacular success of the hockey defensive la september with ukraine. Bread through the lines in front of my reach of hundreds of kilometers cherry street. And this time theyve, theyve taken back nothing. And so at the same time, both sides just put through the budgets for next year and a massive increase Ministry Spending groups as clearly in this for the long haul and um, of the sites. So its just that, that puts in permanent bond even to think about stats in any kind of cx 5. So until the results of the us president ial election or in the next november, because there is a possibility of a big change that again the fatigue in the us is very clear. They just took out the price support from the budget bill that just went through it on yesterday. And thats is getting, i mean, hes hoping for the unity to come in, but he just wants to or to and this is costing rush just economy a huge amounts as well. And they want to end the war, the ones in the sanctions region. But my prediction is that we have a nice them over here fights and people just quickly, weve only got a minute of the program to gar. How do you think the people of slovakia will be assessing whats happened in terms of the pile of entry elections and Going Forward . Uh, i think that the we need to expect the continuation of slovak as a member of sheep. In the i mean of feeling both of politicians and people that we are being good or bad members of the natal. And we need to do every thing to overcome. Some of the cracks these believe span help you trying to be in these black, the war. And i believe that, well ben was mentioning these restaurants, expecting that america may change politics off the war. I mean off the election is because the trunk would fix things within 24 hours and hes still very hot candidate. So lets keep fingers crossed that the us will be leading coal, natal, and we in the, or will be united, confronting these war and other big challenges. Reach out ahead of us. Well, weve run out of time with certainly covered a lot of ground this afternoon. We appreciate your insights. Thank you to all about gas selling of goods car. Been iris and pebble diminish and thank you to for watching. You can see the program any time by visiting our website, which is a red dot com. And for further discussion goes, well facebook page, thats facebook and dot com forward slash i j inside story. You can also join the conversation on x, only known as twitter. Handle is a inside story from me, emily anglin, and the entire team he entail huh. Bye for now, the the 13 years of tip assigned. Also 0. 1 tells the 2 point story. No wage will in the hospital call. Let us to lose the government of norway warrants, remarkable role in nurturing this again. The secret negotiations. And why its promising peace. Thats remaining unfulfilled is strong, decided the terms of the negotiations. Nobody could show sack or go home detroit. So was like, oh no, just the so im carry johnston de la the top stories now and alex is here. Us House Republican not gates has filed a motion to ask to speak or kevin mccarthy. Gates and other hard line republicans. Well, im good. And mccarthy relied on the votes from the democrats. Its a positive loss when a temporary deal to avert a Government Shutdown on the what kind of has moved from washington dc. Its a very red device, the motion to vacate. In fact, its only being used twice in the last century. And it has never ever succeeded, but what it needs is a