Trust in PM Fico declines as rival gains popularity

President Peter Pellegrini is the most trusted political leader in Slovakia, a poll shows.

By: sme.sk

Oct 30 2024
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Trust in PM Fico declines as r

A recent survey by the AKO agency, conducted between October 8 and 17, reveals shifting trust levels among Slovakia’s political leaders. The poll, which sampled 1,000 respondents, indicates a slight increase in trust for opposition leaders, while those in the ruling coalition have seen declines, particularly Prime Minister Robert Fico of the Smer party.

The most trusted leader remains former Hlas party leader and President Peter Pellegrini, with 51 percent of people expressing trust in him, although his approval has dipped by 7 percentage points since June 2024. Following him is Michal Šimečka, leader of Progressive Slovakia, the strongest opposition party, with a trust rating of 39.9 percent, reflecting a slight rise since the last survey. Milan Majerský, leader of the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), is third with 38.4 percent support.

Matúš Šutaj Eštok, leader of the coalition party Hlas and the interior minister, ranks fourth with 36.4 percent, just ahead of Branislav Gröhling of Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), who has a 36.3 percent approval rating.

Fico falls to sixth place with only 32.3 percent trust, experiencing a significant drop of 13 percentage points since June.

Former defence minister Jaroslav Naď, leader of Demokrati, a non-parliamentary party, and Peter Žiga (Hlas), a deputy speaker of parliament who is temporarily holding the competences of the speaker, follow Fico closely, while the leaders of far-right Slovak National Party and populist Slovensko party round out the list with lower approval ratings.