A poll in Slovakia has shown that Prime Minister Robert Fico’s idea of neutrality does not enjoy widespread support among the country’s citizens: more than half of Slovaks categorically reject this possibility.
The poll data from AKO, conducted for JOJ 24 TV channel, is cited by Euractiv.
A total of 1,000 respondents were asked whether Slovakia should become a neutral country. The question explained that “neutrality means leaving NATO and relying solely on its army.”
Slovakia is a member of the EU and NATO, which have a united position to support Ukraine in the face of Russia’s war aggression. But Fico is known for pro-Moscow statements and anti-Ukraine stances.
According to the survey results, 50.6% were against Slovakia’s neutrality, 30.8% were in favor, 16.1% were undecided, and 2.5% refused to answer.
The results varied depending on the political preferences of voters. Among opposition voters, 70% to 98% opposed neutrality. In contrast, 58% of voters for Fico’s Smer-SD party and 67% of voters for the far-right SNS party said they supported the idea of neutrality.
Voters for the second-largest coalition party, the left-wing Hlas party, were more ambivalent: 42% opposed neutrality, and 27% were undecided.
As reported, Fico has stated that neutral status would be beneficial for his country in the current international situation.
In response, Slovak President Peter Pellegrini called Fico’s statement “a provocative idea that is flooding the public space.”
