The Brief – Slovak elections: Shape of things to come?
The victory of anti-liberal pro-Russian leader Robert Fico in Slovakia’s general elections is perceived as bad news across the EU, apart from in Hungary, where Viktor Orbán welcomed the incoming prime minister to be at his side at EU summits.
But is Fico’s victory a prelude to populists taking over in other European capitals, which could grant Vladimir Putin victory in a civilisational conflict?
To answer this question, it is helpful to look at how things developed in Slovakia.
As I come from Bulgaria, I have known for some time that Slovakia and Bulgaria are the two weak links in the EU and NATO’s efforts to supply arms to Ukraine for its fight against the Russian aggressor.?
Slovakia and Bulgaria are special cases. Russian propaganda has found fertile ground in both countries amongst local actors acting like Kremlin propagandists.
And no one seems to be fighting this propaganda at the state level. Some media do have fact-checking sections, but those are supported by international NGOs.
Many Slovaks perceive their country as a victim that suffered first under the Austro-Hungarian Empire and later in the Soviet bloc within Czechoslovakia. Pan-Slavism has also played a role in strengthening pro-Russian narratives.
In Bulgaria, at least a third of Bulgarians, if not half, have deeply rooted pro-Russian sentiments based on historical ties.
In both countries, the COVID vaccination rates remained the lowest in the EU, and the anti-vaxxer movement was strong, which was already an indicator of how vulnerable the societies are to charlatans and how low the confidence was in institutions.
Still, Slovakia has provided neighbouring Ukraine with substantial military and humanitarian aid since the Russian invasion began in February 2022.
But a study by the Bratislava-based think tank Globsec, conducted earlier in 2023, noted that 69% of respondents agreed that by providing military equipment to Ukraine, Slovakia was provoking Russia and bringing itself closer to war.
This is the highest percentage among the six Eastern European countries surveyed, with Bulgaria in second place at 59%.
Slovakia and Bulgaria are also the countries with the lowest percentage of respondents who would vote to stay in NATO if there was a referendum: both at 58%, compared to 93% for Poland and 89% for Hungary and Romania.
It is important to note that the support of Slovaks for NATO membership has shrunk significantly from 72% in 2022, the poll showed. Globsec analysts say the results are due to disinformation.
Slovaks have also shown their affinity for embracing disinformation in other areas, from agreeing with a narrative demonising LGBTI+ people to rejecting the notion that liberal democracy is good for their country.
It is interesting to note that in both countries, the socialist parties — Fico’s Smer-SD and Kornelia Ninova’s BSP – are campaigning on a pro-Russian, “anti-war” and “anti-gender ideology” ticket, throwing the blame for their country’s shortcomings on the liberal policies pushed by the European Commission.
In Bulgaria, however, BSP is not a major force, it has only 23 MPs in the 240-seat parliament. This is probably because other political players, such as the openly pro-Russian Vazrazhdane (Revival) party, make BSP sound too timid in comparison.
By comparison, Fico’s SMER party obtained 23% at the election – roughly the joint score of BSP and Vazrazhdane.
What looks disturbing is that the European socialist family, be it at the level of national leaders — the Party of European Socialists (PES) — or the S&D group in the European parliament, pretend they don’t see that they are harbouring in their ranks pro-Russian forces which profess conservative values close to the far-right.
The Kremlin’s primary goal is to ensure that weak links paralyse NATO and the EU, even before the US elections, which could be an even bigger game-changer.
But Slovakia, even under Fico, will be more interested in continuing to receive EU funding rather than to create chaos. Even when Orbán created obstacles for the EU support to Ukraine, it was to obtain in exchange funds blocked under the ongoing rule-of-law dispute.
I may be too optimistic, but I don’t believe the Slovak elections are the first of a series, and they won’t substantially weaken the EU and NATO. What could undermine the West is a victory of the far-right in France in 2027. But we are not there yet.
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ADIPEC 2023 drives focus on decarbonisation: CEO of Energy Industries Council
ABU DHABI, 2nd October 2023 (WAM) - Stuart Broadley, CEO of the Energy Industries Council (EIC), has said that ADIPEC, the world's largest energy trade show, is playing a critical role in driving decarbonisation of the global energy sector. “ADIPEC’s focus on energy transition and its convening power brings together the world's leading energy companies, governments, and other stakeholders to discuss and collaborate on innovative solutions to reduce emissions and build a cleaner energy future,” he told the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the inaugural day of the ADIPEC 2023, at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. EIC is managing around 100 UK companies participating in ADIPEC 2023. "Among the multitude of companies represented at ADIPEC, the 100 British companies in our pavilion all share a storied legacy in the oil and gas sector. However, it's vital to acknowledge that the energy supply chain has evolved into a fully integrated ecosystem, encompassing not only oil and gas but also renewables, hydrogen, nuclear energy, and more. ADIPEC stands as a distinctive platform, showcasing the world's integrated energy supply chain.
“Everything that ADIPEC says is heard around the world. The show's conference programme and the messages that are laid out are therefore highly influential in shaping the global energy discourse and agenda,” he added.
The fact that ADIPEC is home to the world's integrated energy supply chain is also significant, Stuart stated. “It means that the show brings together all of the key players involved in the energy transition, from oil and gas companies to renewable energy developers to carbon capture and storage (CCS) providers. This creates a unique opportunity for collaboration and innovation.”
One of the key ways that ADIPEC is accelerating decarbonisation is by opening up the dialogue about how the existing supply chain can bring its innovation, skills, and capacity to bear on the challenge. “Oil and gas companies, for example, have a wealth of experience in engineering, project management, and logistics. This expertise can be invaluable in deploying new decarbonization technologies at scale,” he said. He highlighted the necessity of businesses taking proactive steps to reduce emissions based on scientific targets. “EIC, for instance, recently planted 1000 trees as part of its 80th-anniversary celebration, symbolizing their commitment to address emissions. EIC is also actively working to reduce its own emissions. Additionally, compliance with the requirements of local governments and customers plays a crucial role in the decarbonization journey,” he concluded. EIC stands as one of the world's largest energy trade associations, uniting companies that provide goods and services to the global energy sector. Founded in 1943, EIC operates as a non-profit organisation with a membership exceeding 900 companies worldwide.
ADIPEC is the world’s largest and most inclusive gathering for the energy industry. Over 2,200 exhibiting companies, 54 NOCs, IOCs, NECs and IECs and 30 international exhibiting country pavilions are coming together on 2-5 October 2023 to tackle some of the most pressing energy issues, advance decarbonisation and future-proof our energy system.
Emirates News Agency - ADIPEC 2023 drives focus on decarbonisation: CEO of Energy Industries Council (wam.ae)
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