- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Slovak Right-Wing Party Leader Defeated in Regional Election

© REUTERS / Radovan Stoklasa/FilesA leader of People's Party Our Slovakia (LS NS), Marian Kotleba, attends a commemoration of the 87th anniversary of the death of Slovak general Milan Rastislav Stefanik near the village of Brezova pod Bradlom, Slovakia, in this May 6, 2006 file photo
A leader of People's Party Our Slovakia (LS NS), Marian Kotleba, attends a commemoration of the 87th anniversary of the death of Slovak general Milan Rastislav Stefanik near the village of Brezova pod Bradlom, Slovakia, in this May 6, 2006 file photo - Sputnik International
Subscribe
The huge influx of migrants, as well as an economic crisis, bolstered support for right-wing parties across Europe, however, Slovakia turns out to be an exception.

PRAGUE (Sputnik) — Marian Kotleba, the leader of Slovakia's right-wing parliamentary party, failed to get re-elected as the governor of the central Banska Bystrica region in Saturday's election, the press service of Slovakia's Statistics Office said after 99.99 percent of votes were counted.

Kotleba, who heads the People's Party — Our Slovakia, received 24 percent of the vote, while independent candidate Jan Lunter, who represented joint anti-fascist alliance, won the region with 48.5 percent, according to the press service.

READ MORE: Slovakia's Far-Right Party Launches Petition on EU Membership Referendum

Slovakia's Prime minister Robert Fico arrives for an emergency Eurogroup finance ministers' meeting on Greece at the European Council in Brussels, on June 22, 2015 - Sputnik International
Slovakian Prime Minister to Face No-Confidence Vote in Parliament on February 14
On the eve of the election, Slovak President Andrej Kiska said that one of the main goals of the election was to "defeat extremist forces and modern Nazis."

The People's Party — Our Slovakia denies any allegations of being linked to fascism, however, Kotleba is facing extremist charges and party members took part in torch-lit marches wearing uniforms like those in Slovak Nazi puppet state during the World War Two.

A total of 29.96 percent of registered voters or 1.32 million people took part in the election, and no significant incidents were registered during the vote.

READ MORE: This is Why Slovaks Have a Bone to Pick With NATO

Slovak regional self-governance bodies manage the budget of 1.25 billion euros ($1.45 billion) and administer hospitals, schools, museums, theaters, and regional highways.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала