Ľuboš Blaha, vice-chairman of Prime Minister Robert Fico’s Smer party and a Member of the European Parliament, faces fierce condemnation after Slovakia’s Jewish community accused him of promoting antisemitic conspiracy theories and echoing Kremlin propaganda. In a searing statement, Jewish leaders charged Blaha with awakening hatred, undermining democracy, and fuelling authoritarianism through rhetoric that mirrors historical fascist tropes. Blaha, a long-time proponent of pro-Russian and anti-Western narratives, recently alleged the existence of a “Zionist mafia” within Slovakia’s judiciary—an accusation experts liken to Nazi-era antisemitic propaganda. His glorification of Kremlin leadership, celebration of communist regimes, and vilification of liberal democracies has drawn intense scrutiny, highlighting the deepening alignment of Fico’s government with authoritarian values and threatening Slovakia’s stability within NATO and the European Union.
Ľuboš Blaha, vice-chairman of Prime Minister Robert Fico’s ruling Smer party and a Member of the European Parliament, has long embodied Slovakia’s most radical pro-Kremlin and anti-Western tendencies. Celebrated by Kremlin elites, Blaha has repeatedly met with high-ranking Russian officials, including Dmitry Medvedev and Russia’s intelligence chief Sergei Naryshkin, praising Moscow’s leadership even amid its ongoing war against Ukraine. His rhetoric systematically echoes Kremlin propaganda—blaming the West for the war in Ukraine, legitimising Russian aggression, and warning that NATO’s support for Ukraine could provoke nuclear conflict. Domestically, Blaha has openly ridiculed the Velvet Revolution, invoked communist slogans, and celebrated China’s Communist Party as a model for Slovakia, while denouncing Western democracies as “chaos, inequality, and war.”
He has attacked EU institutions, framed European integration as a form of neo-imperialism, mocked human rights advocacy as “neoliberal extremism,” and repeatedly condemned support for LGBTQ+ rights as part of an imperialist Western agenda. Following the assassination attempt on Prime Minister Fico, Blaha’s incendiary rhetoric, veiled threats, and tolerance for antisemitic outbursts at political rallies have further underscored his alignment with authoritarian values and divisive political strategies. His behaviour represents not only a personal radicalism but a profound threat to Slovakia’s democratic commitments, Western alliances, and political stability.
The Central Union of Jewish Communities in Slovakia (ÚZŽNO) has delivered a fierce condemnation of Ľuboš Blaha over his latest antisemitic outbursts published on social media.
In a statement released on 22 April 2025, the Jewish community denounced Blaha as a “bad and indecent individual” who “awakens the evil that sleeps in us” by targeting basic human fears to build an authoritarian political project. The statement warns that his behaviour “feeds authoritarian regimes” and could ultimately destroy “a dignified and democratic Slovakia.”
Accusing a “Zionist mafia” within Slovakia’s judiciary
Blaha, already known for his extremist pro-Kremlin views and previous bans from Facebook for hate speech violations, recently took to Telegram to suggest the existence of a “Zionist mafia” operating within Slovakia’s prosecution service.
In one post dated 17 April 2025, Blaha alleged: “If it turns out there is a Zionist mafia operating in the prosecutor’s office, it will be the biggest scandal in modern Slovak history.” He accused prosecutors of protecting pro-Israel interests and punishing individuals who criticise Israel, notably invoking the case of prosecutor Daniel Kollár, who Blaha claims was targeted for supporting pro-Palestinian protests.
Experts have drawn direct parallels between Blaha’s conspiracy theories and traditional fascist and Nazi propaganda, which historically blamed a so-called “Jewish conspiracy” for manipulating courts, finance, and politics. Analysts underline that such rhetoric systematically dehumanises Jewish communities and lays the foundation for political violence.
Jewish community response: History repeating itself
In their official statement, ÚZŽNO stressed that antisemitic slanders such as Blaha’s have been recycled for centuries and have consistently led to the degradation of democracy and humanity. They explicitly linked his words to past atrocities: “During WWII, they deported people in cattle cars; three years later, they sent them to gulags.”
The Jewish community also reminded Blaha that Slovakia’s Jews, despite a historically hostile environment, have remained committed citizens contributing to the country’s development and paying taxes that fund the very institutions he now maligns.
Expressing both contempt and sorrow, they stated: “People like you have always existed and always will. In addition to disdain, they inspire pity and a transferred sense of shame.”
A pattern of extremist, pro-Kremlin behaviour
Blaha’s antisemitic remarks are not an isolated incident. They form part of a wider pattern of extremist behaviour, deeply rooted in his pro-Kremlin, authoritarian-aligned worldview. He has long mirrored Kremlin disinformation, attacking Western democracies, minorities, and Ukraine’s sovereignty, while amplifying conspiracy theories, anti-American narratives, and anti-EU rhetoric.
Fresh from meetings with figures such as Medvedev and Naryshkin, Blaha continues to use his platform to legitimise Russian aggression and denounce the foundations of Slovakia’s alliances with NATO and the EU. His praise of China’s one-party system and denunciation of Western liberal democracies as “chaos” reflects a broader disdain for democratic governance, further aligning him with authoritarian regimes.
Notably, Blaha’s previous hate speech resulted in a Facebook ban—an extreme measure rarely applied except to the most egregious violators of platform policies. His reappearance on Telegram has allowed him to continue spreading disinformation with less oversight, reinforcing concerns over his growing influence.
Fico’s Slovakia: Antisemitism, Kremlin alignemnt, and Democracy in Retreat
Legal experts warn that when an elected official accuses public institutions of being infiltrated by a “Zionist mafia”, it significantly undermines trust in the rule of law and destabilises democratic society. As the Jewish community emphasises, such rhetoric creates an atmosphere ripe for authoritarianism, where fear and hatred can easily be weaponised.
The Central Union has formally called upon law enforcement to investigate whether Blaha’s statements constitute criminal hate speech or incitement to extremism, warning that failure to address such extremism risks deeper fractures in Slovakia’s fragile democratic system.
Translation of the original statement issued by the Central Union of Jewish Communities in Slovakia
Statement by the Central Union of Jewish Communities in Slovakia on the Remarks of Ľuboš Blaha
Birds of a feather flock together; a rogue seeks out another rogue.
The circle has closed: the extreme left and extreme right have merged into one. People are good and bad, talented and untalented, skilled and less so, decent and indecent, moral and immoral, wise and simple-minded. Since the world is not black and white, every personality is a combination of these qualities. However, not in every one of us do the darker traits come to dominate. Ľuboš Blaha, you have chosen, voluntarily, to be a bad and indecent individual.
This is evident in the fact that you have taken it upon yourself to actively awaken the dormant evil that lies within people.
You appeal to base instincts and take pleasure when you see the results of your work – anxious, frightened, or fanatised people – for such people are easy to manipulate. To control them, you employ democratic tools, calling for boundless freedom of expression – a hallmark of anarchy – yet in doing so, you help to build an authoritarian regime. Political scientists find it difficult to categorise your behaviour, and therefore perceive you more as a tragicomic figure.
Mr Blaha, you have claimed to suspect that a Zionist mafia operates within the Prosecutor’s Office. Such assertions have been repeated for two centuries. The Slovak Jewish community observes your statements and wishes to remind you that all Jews living in Slovakia today have chosen to do so voluntarily, despite the fact that the environment has not always been welcoming. Our small Jewish community contributes to the development of Slovakia, and through our creative work and the taxes we pay, we also finance your salary. We know that people like you have always existed and always will. Besides evoking contempt, you also inspire pity and a transferred sense of shame.
During the Second World War, there were those who aryanised property and loaded people into cattle wagons; three years later, others were nationalising property and sending people to the gulags. Such realities can be endured, provided there are not too many people like you. If there are, it would bring about the collapse of a dignified and democratic Slovakia.
