Who is Robert Fico, the pro-Russian leader poised to head Slovakia’s coalition government?

In a three-decade career, Fico has navigated between mainstream, pro-EU positions and more nationalist, anti-western stances. Photograph: Vladimír Šimíček/AFP/Getty Images

Slovakia’s president, Zuzana Caputova, on Monday handed the country’s former prime minister Robert Fico a mandate to start negotiations to form a coalition government after his Smer-SD party won almost 23% of the vote in weekend elections.

If he succeeds, the populist, pro-Russian leader’s fourth term as prime minister could have significant ramifications for Slovakia’s military support for Ukraine, EU unity and cohesion, and the rule of law in the central European country.