The Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament welcomes and supports today’s unanimous decision by the Presidency of the Party of European Socialists (PES) to suspend the membership of the Slovak SMER and HLAS parties.

 

This step comes as a reaction to the formation of a coalition government in Slovakia with the far-right Slovak National Party SNS. The memorandum of understanding signed by all three parties is not compatible with the progressive values and principles of the European family of Socialists and Social Democrats. The recent public comments and positions taken by SMER and HLAS party leaders regarding the Russian war against Ukraine, migration, the rule of law and the LGTBIQ community have raised serious concerns and have no place in the progressive family.

 

In line with its internal rules and procedures, and taking fully into account today’s decision by the PES, the S&D Bureau will propose that the Group suspend the membership of its three Slovak MEPs next week.