Robert Fico is a prominent Slovak politician, currently serving his fourth term as Prime Minister. He founded and leads the Direction – Social Democracy (Smer-SD) party since 1999, having previously served as Prime Minister from 2006-2010 and 2012-2018, making him the longest-serving in Slovakia’s history. With a background in law, he was also a Member of Parliament and represented Slovakia at the European Court of Human Rights. Known for his populist, left-wing, and conservative views, Fico’s recent policies include halting military aid to Ukraine and reforms to the justice system. He survived an assassination attempt in May 2024.