[EPA-EFE/Alexei Druzhinin]

Among all EU countries, Czech Republic's trade relations with Russia is the most beneficial. Bulgarians show the most positive stance towards Russia. By contrast, Poland perceives Russia as its most serious threat. What makes Russia seem legitimate in central and eastern Europe?

[TASR/Jaroslav Novák]

The new Slovak government intends to be a predictable partner in defence cooperation and to fulfil its promises to soldiers at home and the country's allies abroad. It announces an agreement on defence planning across the political spectrum and the intention to keep on increasing the defence budget to reach two percent of GDP despite the looming coronacrisis.

Josep Renau: Nástenná maľba na internáte v Halle-Neustadt, Nemecko (1972) [BACU/SocMonumental Art]

2020 ELECTIONS | Despite their rhetoric in the media, all of the relevant political parties surveyed (except for Kotleba's ĽSNS) agree on Slovakia's clear pro-Atlantic orientation. Building a common European army outside of NATO has the greatest support in the nationalist circles of SNS. In this respect, the most sceptical stance is held by the libertarian and Eurosceptic SaS and the right-wing populist party Sme rodina.

Slovak political landscape is exceptionally fragmented ahead of February 29 general elections. One of the last opinion polls published before the election polls moratorium foresees eight parties to be represented in the parliament. However, conceivable scenarios include 6 to 12 parties possibly entering the parliament.