The European Socialists Party voted to exclude the Smer party from Slovakia, led by Robert Fico, following political disagreements.

The exclusion of the Smer party from the European Socialist Party was decided unanimously at a recent meeting. This decision, which will be ratified at a meeting in Amsterdam, comes after the controversial actions of Robert Fico, including meetings with leaders such as Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. Smer had already been suspended from the European party in October 2023, and Fico has been criticized for his positions regarding sanctions against Russia and for undermining the rule of law in Slovakia.