Slovakia political parties form alliances ahead of regional elections

As regional elections approach in Slovakia, scheduled for October 24, political shifts are emerging through new electoral alliances. The governing coalition, led by Robert Fico’s Směr-SD, has begun collaborating with the far-right, extra-parliamentary movement Republika. This marks the first open cooperation between the ruling parties—Směr-SD, Hlas, and SNS—and Republika, which currently holds third place in pre-election polls.

In the Trnava region, candidate Peter Hambálek announced his candidacy under a banner featuring logos from the governing coalition and Republika. Other joint candidates include long-time MP Jaroslav Baška. The coalition aims to consolidate strength by coordinating candidates to avoid splitting votes in several regions.

In the Košice region, incumbent president Rastislav Trnka has pledged to conduct a “fair” campaign, vowing to avoid personal attacks and defamation despite an increasingly heated political climate. He is one of six candidates competing for the post, which includes figures from various political spectrums, including Igor Šimko, who is running with support from a broad coalition including Směr-SD, Hlas, and Republika.