People walk past an election poster with the chairman of the SMER-Social Democracy party Robert Fico in Bratislava, Slovakia, Friday, March 4, 2016. Ahead of the Saturday's general elections Prime Minister Robert Fico's ruling leftist Smer party is a clear favorite but some feel Fico may have misjudged the public mood by focusing too much on Europe's migration crisis and not enough on Slovakia's own issues. Poster reads: "We protect Slovakia,". (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
The Associated Press
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) - Preliminary results show that the leftist ruling party is heading for a victory in the parliamentary election in Slovakia, but will need coalition partners to form a majority government.
In a shocking development, a neo-Nazi party gained parliamentary seats.
With the votes from about half of the almost 6,000 polling stations counted by the Statistics Office early Sunday, the Smer-Social Democracy of Prime Minister Robert Fico, which campaigned on an anti-migrant ticket is a winner with 29.3 percent of the vote, or 48 seats in the 150-seat Parliament.
That represented a drop in support from the 2012 election when Smer took 44.4 percent and was able to govern alone.
Nine parties appear to be winning seats, including the neo-Nazi People's Party - Our Slovakia, which got 8.4 percent.
Radoslav Prochazka, chairman of Siet (The Net) party casts his vote during general elections in Trnava, Slovakia, Saturday, March 5, 2016. Polls opened on Saturday in Slovakiaâs parliamentary election with the ruling party of Prime Minister Robert Fico campaigning on an anti-migrant ticket. The leftist Smer-Social Democracy party is a clear favorite but analysts say Fico may have misjudged the public mood by focusing too much on Europe's migration crisis and not enough on Slovakia's own issues. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
The Associated Press
An election poster with the chairman of the SMER-Social Democracy party Robert Fico is on display near the Bratislava Castle in Bratislava, Slovakia, Friday, March 4, 2016. Ahead of the Saturday's general elections Prime Minister Robert Fico's ruling leftist Smer party is a clear favorite but some feel Fico may have misjudged the public mood by focusing too much on Europe's migration crisis and not enough on Slovakia's own issues. Poster reads: "We protect Slovakia,". (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
The Associated Press
Residents queue during general elections in Ruzindol, Slovakia, Saturday, March 5, 2016. Polls opened on Saturday in Slovakia's parliamentary election with the ruling party of Prime Minister Robert Fico campaigning on an anti-migrant ticket. The leftist Smer-Social Democracy party is a clear favorite but analysts say Fico may have misjudged the public mood by focusing too much on Europe's migration crisis and not enough on Slovakia's own issues. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
The Associated Press
A woman prepares to cast her vote during general elections in Trnava, Slovakia, Saturday, March 5, 2016. Polls opened on Saturday in Slovakia's parliamentary election with the ruling party of Prime Minister Robert Fico campaigning on an anti-migrant ticket. The leftist Smer-Social Democracy party is a clear favorite but analysts say Fico may have misjudged the public mood by focusing too much on Europe's migration crisis and not enough on Slovakia's own issues. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
The Associated Press