Fico began the first of his three terms as prime minister in 2006, serving for four years before going into opposition after his coalition lost an election.

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He has led broadly leftist or nationalist governments, expressing anti-American views, and has spoken about what he called Western influence in Ukraine’s war which only led to “Slavic nations killing each other”.

His popularity has been based on his vow to support the living standards of those left behind in a country where conditions for many are only slowly catching up with Western Europe after a communist-era past.

In recent years, Fico has increasingly embraced right-wing views on immigration and cultural issues.

Why is he controversial?

Fico resigned as prime minister in July 2018 following mass demonstrations over the murder of journalist Jan Kuciak, and his fiancée Martina Kusnirova, who had been uncovering government corruption.

The protests rocked the country, demanding the resignation of the government and new elections. They were the largest seen since the 1989 Velvet Revolution, when huge protests ended the one-party communist government in what was then Czechoslovakia.

He has also repeated Russian President Vladimir Putin’s unsupported claim that the Ukrainian government runs a “Nazi state” from which ethnic Russians in the country need protection. He is known for foul-mouthed tirades against journalists and has campaigned against LGBTQ+ rights.

What has he done since returning to power?

Many European nations worry that Fico is abandoning Slovakia’s pro-Western course and following the direction of Hungary under Victor Orban. Thousands of people have rallied in the capital and across Slovakia to protest against Fico’s policies.

After winning office he lowered penalties for financial crimes, cut the statute of limitations for rape, and scrapped a special prosecutor’s office that dealt with high-level corruption.

In April, his government announced plans to abolish the public broadcaster and replace it with a new body. It has faced fierce backlash from opposition parties who say it will give the government full control of public radio and television.