Fico: If PES Expelled Smer for My Participation in Celebrations, I'm Proud of It

Bratislava, 17 October (TASR) - Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) has said that he's proud of Smer-SD's expulsion from the Party of European Socialists (PES) if the reason for it was his participation in celebrations of the victory over fascism and the amendment to the Constitution enshrining two genders. "If the reason for the termination of Smer-SD's membership of PES was my participation in celebrations of the victory over fascism and the constitutional enshrinement of male and female genders, then I'm proud of this expulsion," Fico posted on a social network on Friday. The Party of European Socialists at its congress in Amsterdam on Friday decided to fully expel Smer-SD and Premier Robert Fico from its ranks. PES Secretary General Giacomo Filibeck said before the vote that the actions of Smer-SD in recent years have been "grossly and strongly contrary to the values ​​and principles of our family". The decision of PES members was unanimous. The recent Smer-SD working congress took note of information about the proposal to expel it from the ranks of the European socialists, describing it as the result of the Slovak party's gradual distancing from ideas in Brussels. At the same time, it tasked its MEPs with negotiating the party's inclusion in another existing or newly formed faction in the European Parliament. Until now, the MEPs have been operating as non-aligned members. Smer-SD's membership of PES has been suspended until now. The European party's presidium in October 2023 decided on the suspension "after Smer-SD moved away from the values ​​of the leftist grouping and formed a governing coalition with the Slovak National Party (SNS)". ko/df