Bratislava, 1 October 2023 (dpa/MIA) — Slovakia's former prime minister Robert Fico and his left-nationalist Social Democrats have won the country's parliamentary elections in Slovakia, contrary to initial exit polls.

After counting almost 99% of the electoral districts, the opposition party SMER-SSD party ("Direction - Slovak Social Democracy") garnered 23.3% of the votes, according to the preliminary results of the electoral commission in Bratislava early Sunday morning.

This gives Fico's party an unassailable lead over the liberal party Progresivne Slovensko ("Progessive Slovakia," PS), which has never been represented in parliament before. PS was in second place with 17%. It had been leading in the initial exit polls.

Voter turnout was around 68%.

However, it will not be easy for Fico's SMER party to form a coalition with a sufficient majority to control parliament.

Former longtime premier Fico had announced before the election that he wanted to end arms deliveries to neighbouring Ukraine, which is unpopular with the electorate.