Robert Fico. (source: TASR)
The Party of European Socialists (PES) is considering expelling the Smer party from its faction amid the latter's threats to stop military support for Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia's invasion.
European Socialist chair Stefan Löfven says that if Smer's rhetoric continues and becomes policy when the party forms a government, he will look into the expulsion of the party.
In response, Smer chair Robert Fico said his party, which last weekend won parliamentary elections, was being blackmailed. He described Löfven's words as 'undemocratic, authoritarian', adding he had expected congratulations, not threats.
"If our exclusion is to be a price for pursuing a genuine left-wing agenda in Slovakia and voicing sovereign opinions, we are prepared to pay the price," Fico said.
Fico has previously said his government would provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine but not military aid, and has backed peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow. He has also spread disinformation about the war, claiming it was started by "Ukrainian fascists".
Last year, Russian propagandist and television presenter Vladimir Solovyov shared a video in which Fico slammed EU sanctions on Russia, while Ukraine's list of pro-Kremlin propagandists features the former three-time Slovak prime minister.
Smer was previously suspended from PES for ten months in 2006. At the time, the party formed a government with the far-right Slovak National Party (SNS). Smer was also threatened with suspension in 2015 over anti-migrant rhetoric.
