Robert Fico, the nationalist politician who has been sworn in as prime minister and head of a coalition government in Slovakia, is a familiar figure. The burly and brash political veteran has enjoyed three previous stints as prime minister and so is well known to voters and observers.
The 59-year-old is also typical of the new wave of nationalist-populist politicians who have emerged over the last decade, riding the wave of resentment generated among tens of millions of Europeans by the diverse disappointments of the third decade of the 21st century. His fall from power amid corruption allegations and after mass protests prompted by the 2018 killing of a young investigative journalist was supposed to be definitive.
