Could Slovakia replace Hungary as the EU's main disruptor? | DW News

This DW News report explores the geopolitical positioning of Slovakia within the European Union, focusing on the potential for Prime Minister Robert Fico to replace Viktor Orbán as the EU's main disruptor. Through interviews with Slovak foreign policy expert Alexander Duleba, the video clarifies that Fico’s recent engagement with Russia is viewed less as a significant geopolitical pivot and more as "theatre" aimed at his domestic base. The report highlights Slovakia's economic dependence on the EU single market, noting that despite anti-system rhetoric, Fico is unlikely to jeopardize the material benefits of membership. It breaks down the internal political divide in Slovakia, contrasting the pro-European majority with an "anti-system" minority that supports nationalist and pro-Russian policies. Ultimately, the report concludes that while Slovakia under Fico remains unpredictable and Russia-friendly, it does not pose the same structural risk to EU policy as Hungary, primarily due to Fico's pragmatism regarding Slovakia's economic needs.