Slovakia’s opposition parties will propose a vote of no confidence against the government on Tuesday, the 14th of January, a party leader said on Tuesday, accusing Prime Minister Robert Fico of aligning foreign policy with Russia while failing to address domestic problems, reports Reuters.
Fico’s ruling left-nationalist coalition has become weaker in recent months, with its majority shrinking to 76 out of 150 seats in parliament.
“Robert Fico has left Slovakia. Instead of being at home and working on solving problems, he is flying around the world and bowing to dictators”, Michal Šimečka, leader of the largest opposition party Progressive Slovakia, told a televised press conference.
“We are determined to ensure that Slovakia is firmly anchored in the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) alliance.”
It was not immediately clear when the vote would take place. The opposition would need a majority to win, and such an outcome would force the Slovak President to appoint a new government.
Parliament could also agree to hold early elections, but this would require the support of both the opposition and the government.
Fico’s government is facing significant internal problems, including a large budget deficit, problems in the healthcare system and the disruption of Russian gas supplies through Ukraine, which Fico says has damaged the Slovak economy.
Fico claims that stopping the flow of gas from Ukraine will cost Slovakia 1.5 billion euros.
Last December, Fico travelled to Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin to discuss the transit terms, which drew criticism from Ukraine. Fico has proposed talks to resolve the dispute but has rejected a proposal by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to hold talks in Kyiv.
The flow of gas from Russia to Europe ended at the beginning of the year after a transit contract between Kyiv and Moscow expired. Ukraine refused to extend the contract in an effort to prevent revenues from financing Russia’s war in Ukraine
Slovak opposition to call no-confidence vote against PM Fico’s government
