Hungarian Minister Seeks Russian Aid for Slovak Elections

• •Szijjártó solicited Russian support for Slovakia's social-democratic party in 2020 elections.
• •The conversation was leaked by journalist Szabolcs Panyi and recorded by an EU national security service.
• •The political landscape in Slovakia shifted after the elections, with Fico's party now in power.

In a leaked transcript from February 2020, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó asked Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov for assistance to ensure the victory of Slovakia's social-democratic party in the upcoming elections. Szijjártó expressed concern over the potential loss of the ruling coalition and emphasized the importance of the Slovak National Party crossing the electoral threshold. The conversation was recorded by a national security service of an EU member state and published by opposition journalist Szabolcs Panyi. Following the elections, the social-democratic party lost, leading to a shift in Slovakia's political landscape. The transcript's release has sparked discussions about foreign influence in national elections and the implications for Central European cooperation. The situation is further complicated by allegations of a major intelligence operation against Szijjártó, with claims of foreign intelligence services accessing his communications. The current political ramifications are significant, as Robert Fico's party now leads Slovakia's government.