The governing party is still leading polls atm, and still managed to make it to the second presidential round. Most importantly, the slovaks chose a progressive candidate (Zuzana Čaputová) from a centrist party, which already managed to amass 40% of the votes in the first round, over the conservative alternatives (Harabin, who got 14% of the votes, and Kotleba, who only got 10%). Over all the sum of conservative and eurosceptic parties didn't surpass the 30% mark.

I do think it's fair to say that this shows Slovak society is more progressive and europhile than its neighbors.

It will be interesting to see how the Progressive Slovakia party fairs in next year's legislative election. They're a new party, established just around a year ago. Now that they hold presidency, they'll be at the center of the political debate.

I feel like a gen election may be needed if we can't get a consensus in parliament from these series of indicative votes, but Corbyn has a real chance of winning and it scares the hell out of me. No way can we let that man be prime minister. I would rather crash out of the EU.

one thing to note here is that the slovakian economy is dominated by car manufacturing, almost exclusively for big european brands. slovakia is the country which is producing the most cars per capita in the whole world iirc. so they are benefitting from and depending on the common market very much. I think this contributes to their more pro-EU stance when compared with their eastern european neighbors.

but wouldnt a general election by a total clusterfuck in the current environment?

first, it would come too late for brexit, wouldnt it?
second, both major parties are torn internally between remainers and brexiteers.
third, both major parties have a leadership problem. May is a dead women walking, politically speaking, and Corbyn has a firm grip on his party, but isnt providing proper leadership at all during this whole brexit saga.

Any chance of LibDem rising up again with both Labour and Tories falling short?

By electing a liberal woman, Slovakia says "no" to populism

quick reminder:

https://www.euronews.com/2016/03/06/pm-robert-fico-s-anti-immigration-party-wins-slovakian-election

.

I would think so. They are staunchly pro-EU/in favor of remain, and since Labour wont be a reliably pro-EU party under Corbyn's leadership, they might be the party of choice for the remainers. (Brexit would of course be the dominating issue of the campaign.)

The current lack of a clear parliamentary majority is already causing untold clusterfuckery; a general election can potentially solve this issue.

It would also provide a clear cut reason for the EU to grant a long extension.

Admittedly, a general election would be a lot more effective if we had an AV system. The Conservatives would need to get a new leader in first and new parties like TIG/Change and another UKIP style party advocating a hard Brexit getting their membership, funding and candidates sorted in time.

I can't vote Corbyn in good conscience regardless of Brexit policy. Lib dems are an option, Conservatives are an option to me only if they appoint a leader that is against a no-deal, or possibly Gove. TIG/Change would be my first choice currently.



Yes, but not to a great extent due to a new party called Change UK polling at around 9%, made up of staunchly pro-EU ex Labour and Conservative MP's. Lib Dems are polling at 6-8% currently, but without Change they'd be polling comfortably over 15%.

Any of the bigshots in either party in danger of losing their constituency?

I didn't know that (the per capita thing, not that they had a huge car production industry), that's really interesting. Indeed, these kind of job opportunities do favour pro-EU sentiment.

Still, I think it's noteworthy that they not only went with the most europhile candidate, but also the most progressive one.