Smer-SD disagrees with several stances of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group in the European Parliament, and its MEPs prefer to remain unattached, Smer leader Robert Fico has said. The Party of European Socialists suspended Smer-SD's membership in October 2023 on the grounds of Robert Fico's deviation from its values and due to Smer's association with the right-wing Slovak National Party (SNS). Conflicting areas included the war in Ukraine, migration, powers of veto and other ethical issues.
According to Fico, the condition his party sets is that they will be allowed to pursue what he calls "sovereign policy" in these areas. Otherwise, they are not interested in membership and its MEPs would rather remain unattached, said Fico. He added that Smer-SD would not join other groups that "have nothing to do with left-wing politics and social democracy".
Existing or new factions in the European Parliament have until 15 July to announce their name and composition. From 16 to 19 July, the EP will hold its inaugural plenary session in Strasbourg, where MEPs will elect a president and 14 vice-presidents and quaestors, chairs and vice-chairs of committees and delegations.
Memberships in the groups are important prerequisite for participation in the legislative procedure in the European Parliament.
