Parliamentary elections took place in Slovakia on 5 March 2016. Robert Fico and his ''social-democrat'' party was expected to lose its majority, the losses turned out be be higher however then was previously prognosed. While it had won 44,4% of the votes during last Parliamentary Elections in 2012, it managed to win only 28,3% this time. Other centre-right and Eurosceptic parties made gains such as Freedom and Solidarity (Sas) and Ordinary People (OL'aNO-NOVA) rose from 5,9% and 8,5% to 12,1% and 11% respectively. More thrilling however was the rise of nationalist and neo-nazi parties of the Slovak National Party (SNS) and People's Party - Our Slovakia (L'SNS) that both for the first time passed the threshold in the Slovak Parliament by winning 8,6% and 8% respectively. The elections will make it difficult for a coalition to be formed. The elections were characterised by anti-immigration rhetoric from all parties, including Smer-SD, which seemed to have backfired as the right wing parties made huge gains. Social issues also played a huge role such as education. As Slovakia has the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU meetings in the second half year, the election outcome is considered awkward for the country.

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