Discursive shift in Slovak politics

Despite the strong interest in populism, the Slovak case has received inadequate research attention. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico presents himself as a charismatic leader, a protector of the Slovak people and a victim of anti-government forces, especially the media. His party, SMER-SD, has been radicalising its rhetoric in recent years, turning towards Russia and against the West, particularly the European Union and NATO. An analysis of Robert Fico's discourse reveals three levels of discursive shift towards the normalisation of pro-Russian rhetoric in today's Slovakia, which culminated before Robert Fico visited Moscow to mark the eightieth anniversary of the end of World War II.