Robert Fico - 10 things to know with detail
- 1. Robert Fico is a Slovak politician who served as the Prime Minister of Slovakia for two non-consecutive terms (2006-2010 and 2012-2018).
- 2. He was born on September 15, 1964, in Topoľčany, Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia).
- 3. Fico studied law at Comenius University in Bratislava and worked as a lawyer before entering politics.
- 4. He is the leader of the Direction – Social Democracy (SMER-SD) party, which is a center-left political party in Slovakia.
- 5. Fico is known for his populist and nationalist political views, as well as his tough stance on immigration and the European Union.
- 6. During his time as Prime Minister, Fico implemented various social and economic reforms, including the introduction of a flat tax rate and increased social welfare benefits.
- 7. He has been criticized for his close ties to oligarchs and allegations of corruption within his government.
- 8. Fico resigned as Prime Minister in March 2018 following public protests over the murder of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak, who was investigating links between the government and organized crime.
- 9. Despite stepping down as Prime Minister, Fico remains an influential figure in Slovak politics and continues to lead the SMER-SD party.
- 10. Fico is a polarizing figure in Slovak politics, with supporters praising his strong leadership and policies, while critics accuse him of authoritarian tendencies and corruption.