Slovakian Prime Minister Accused of Jeopardizing EU Membership as Tensions Escalate
The opposition alleges that Robert Fico is preparing Slovakia for an EU departure, while the government accuses the opposition of organizing disruptive demonstrations.
On Tuesday, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was accused by the opposition of setting Slovakia on a path towards leaving the European Union.
These accusations emerged during a tense parliamentary session when the liberal pro-Western opposition retracted a no-confidence motion against Fico's government, citing procedural issues.
The motion, not expected to succeed given the government's slim majority, was withdrawn after the debate was closed to the public, ostensibly to discuss sensitive information.
Michal Simecka, leader of the Progressive Slovakia party, argued that Fico's actions and remarks, including his criticism of EU sanctions on Russia and his visit to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in December, indicate a shift in Slovakia's foreign policy.
Simecka accused Fico's government of laying the groundwork for exiting the EU, an allegation Fico refuted while expressing his concerns about possible EU reforms, such as creating a 'superstate' without veto rights for smaller nations.
Fico, who heads the leftist-nationalist Smer-SSD party and is serving his fourth term as prime minister, has kept ties with Russia amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Under his leadership, Slovakia has stopped military support for Ukraine and criticized sanctions on Moscow.
Fico’s government has also faced strained relations with Kyiv, particularly after Slovakia ended the transit of Russian gas supplies at the close of 2024.
In reaction to the opposition's claims, Fico warned of supposed plans for disruptive protests, alleging the opposition intended to occupy government buildings and collaborate with foreign actors to destabilize his administration.
He compared these alleged plans to the 2014 Maidan protests in Ukraine, which resulted in the ousting of a pro-Russian president.
Opposition leader Simecka dismissed Fico's claims as unfounded, accusing him of staging a 'farce' in parliament and vowed to initiate another no-confidence motion.
These rising tensions underscore the increasing political polarization in Slovakia, a member of the EU and NATO, amid intensifying debates over its foreign policy and relations with both the EU and Russia.
These accusations emerged during a tense parliamentary session when the liberal pro-Western opposition retracted a no-confidence motion against Fico's government, citing procedural issues.
The motion, not expected to succeed given the government's slim majority, was withdrawn after the debate was closed to the public, ostensibly to discuss sensitive information.
Michal Simecka, leader of the Progressive Slovakia party, argued that Fico's actions and remarks, including his criticism of EU sanctions on Russia and his visit to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in December, indicate a shift in Slovakia's foreign policy.
Simecka accused Fico's government of laying the groundwork for exiting the EU, an allegation Fico refuted while expressing his concerns about possible EU reforms, such as creating a 'superstate' without veto rights for smaller nations.
Fico, who heads the leftist-nationalist Smer-SSD party and is serving his fourth term as prime minister, has kept ties with Russia amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Under his leadership, Slovakia has stopped military support for Ukraine and criticized sanctions on Moscow.
Fico’s government has also faced strained relations with Kyiv, particularly after Slovakia ended the transit of Russian gas supplies at the close of 2024.
In reaction to the opposition's claims, Fico warned of supposed plans for disruptive protests, alleging the opposition intended to occupy government buildings and collaborate with foreign actors to destabilize his administration.
He compared these alleged plans to the 2014 Maidan protests in Ukraine, which resulted in the ousting of a pro-Russian president.
Opposition leader Simecka dismissed Fico's claims as unfounded, accusing him of staging a 'farce' in parliament and vowed to initiate another no-confidence motion.
These rising tensions underscore the increasing political polarization in Slovakia, a member of the EU and NATO, amid intensifying debates over its foreign policy and relations with both the EU and Russia.
