Robert Fico (Slovak pronunciation: [ˈɾɔbɛɾt ˈfitsɔ]; born 15 September 1964) is a Slovak politician who served as Prime Minister of Slovakia from 2012 until his resignation in 2018. Fico also previously served as a Prime Minister from 4 July 2006 to 8 July 2010. He has been the leader of the Direction – Social Democracy (SMER-SD) party since 1999. First elected to Parliament in 1992 (whilst within Czechoslovakia), he was later appointed to the Council of Europe. Following his party's victory in the 2006 parliamentary election, he formed the first Fico Cabinet.