BRUSSELS (AP) — Europe's main center-left political group expelled the party on Friday Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is accused of aiding Russian President Vladimir Putin and undermining the rule of law in his own country.
The Party of European Socialists voted unanimously to expel Fico Smer's party for taking political positions in recent years that “seriously and deeply contradict the values and principles that our family stands for,” said Secretary General Giacomo Filibec.
“This is a unanimous and clear message. If you belong to the PES family, you share the values that we all share,” Philibeck said after the vote at the group's congress in Amsterdam. The group did not give the exact reasons for Smer's expulsion.
Fico said he was disappointed by the decision.
“If they want to punish us for defining marriage as a unique union between a man and a woman, for saying that there are only two sexes and for saying that in these matters our law takes precedence over European law, if that is why we should be expelled, then we are honored,” he said.
The European Union has struggled in recent years to deal with member states such as Slovakia and Hungary, which are accused of abandoning the democratic standards required to join the 27-nation bloc.
In May, Fico was the only leader of an EU country to visit Moscow. holidays in honor of the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, despite EU calls for a boycott.
Divisive at home and abroad, Fico returned to power in 2003 after his left-wing Smer (Direction) party won elections. parliamentary elections on pro-Russian and anti-American platform.
Known for his pro-Russian views, he has openly challenged the bloc's policies towards Ukraine. Slovakia is currently maintaining the latest round of EU sanctions against Russia.
Associated Press
