Foresight
Politics
Far-Right’s Upper Hand in Presidential Run-off in Poland
20 May 2025
The shooting of Robert Fico was a tragic event, but it has also given the Smer government an opportunity to further its illiberal agenda. Representatives of the governing coalition were quick to blame the shooting on the opposition, media and civil society, when what they call “polarisation” is largely a result of their own vitriolic narratives.
Until yesterday, Slovakia did not have any experience with assassination attempts on high-ranking government officials. Thus, the shooting of Prime Minister Robert Fico has rattled Slovak society and will likely have long-term impacts on social cohesion (or lack of it). 
Smer government weaponises polarisation
Slovak society has already been largely polarised, as was evidenced during last year’s parliamentary and this year’s presidential elections.
This polarisation has been exacerbated by increasingly vitriolic narratives by various cabinet members against the opposition as well as against the media and civil society at large.
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