Pro-Russia ex-PM leads party to win in Slovakia’s parliamentary elections

Former prime minister Robert Fico and the leftist Smer party led with 22.9%, official figures indicated (Darko Bandic/AP)

A populist former prime minister and his leftist party have won early parliamentary elections in Slovakia, staging a political comeback after campaigning on a pro-Russian and anti-American message, according to results announced on Sunday.

Former prime minister Robert Fico and the leftist Smer, or Direction, party had 22.9% of the votes, or 42 seats in the 150-seat Parliament, the Slovak Statistics Office said.