In a noteworthy development, Slovak authorities’ aid to Ukrainian refugees has ignited outrage among the country’s own citizens, reports Financial Times columnist Rafael Minder.
A Visit to Čonkovce
Minder’s investigation led him to the Slovak village of Čonkovce, located merely ten kilometers from the Ukrainian border. He observed that during the recent weekend, nearly half of the 540 residents cast their votes in favor of the Smer party, a political group staunchly opposed to ongoing support for Kyiv.
Changing Sentiments
Jan Skiba, the former mayor of the village, expressed the shifting sentiments, stating, “Over the past year, the mood here has changed. We are still ready to help poor Ukrainians, but not rich Ukrainians who drive cars that don’t even exist in Slovakia.”
Implications for Ukraine
Minder highlighted that the electoral victory of the Smer party in Slovakia signifies a decline in Western support for Ukraine.
Skiba further voiced the deep resentment among Slovak citizens regarding the state’s generosity towards Ukraine compared to the perceived disregard successive governments in Bratislava have shown to the less affluent eastern regions of Slovakia.
Election Results
The parliamentary elections held in Slovakia on September 30 saw the Smer party emerge as the frontrunner with 22.94 percent of the vote.
Prioritizing Domestic Concerns
The party’s leader, Robert Fico, has made it clear that Slovakia faces issues of greater gravity than Ukraine, further underscoring the evolving political landscape in Slovakia in relation to its stance on international aid and support.