Populists' latest triumph in Europe can embolden far-left and far-right

Extremist groups seen getting a boost ahead of elections to EU Parliament

- Jonathan Eyal

At first sight, the election of a new president in Slovakia should command little attention. The central European country is relatively small: by the size of its economy, it is ranked 18th out of the European Union's 27 member states. And the position of the Slovak president is mainly ceremonial: real power rests with the country's prime minister.

Still, the election of 48-year-old Peter Pellegrini as Slovakia's new president has sent shock waves throughout Europe. For it is seen as yet another victory for populists of either the far-left or far-right variety, who reject the continent's mainstream political parties and threaten to shatter Europe's consensus in backing Ukraine's fight with Russia.

Fears are growing that Mr Pellegrini's triumph could also act as a prelude to the early June elections to the European Parliament, where extremist parties of various hues are expected to make further significant inroads.

Mr Pellegrini claims to be a left-winger and is a close ally of Mr Robert Fico, the current Slovak Prime Minister. The two run separate political parties, but Mr Fico supported Mr Pellegrini's presidential ambitions and will clearly benefit from the results of the latest election.

With Mr Pellegrini set to become Slovakia's new head of state, the constitutional checks and balances on both politicians have now largely disappeared. Mr Fico, Slovakia's longest-serving Prime Minister, wants to control the country's judiciary, which has often questioned the government's practices. Once Mr

Pellegrini is ensconced in the presidential palace in a few weeks from now, he will be in charge of all judicial appointments, a handy asset to the Fico government.

Both leaders want to take Slovakia in a radically different direction by following the path charted by Mr Viktor Orban, the Prime Minister of neighbouring Hungary.