The chaotic operation of Slovakia’s center-right government ended with a vote of no confidence on the evening of the 15th of December, without serving the full term, reports Politico.
The parliament supported a vote of no confidence in the government, with 78 votes out of 150. Three scenarios are now possible in Slovakia: snap elections; an interim government approved by President Zuzana Čaputová or a new coalition formed by the ruling parties of the current parliament.
The main instigator of the collapse of the government is not considered Eduard Heger, but his predecessor Igor Matovič. After winning the 2020 elections, in which Matovič won the support of a quarter of the electorate, he brought populism to the government and strongly insisted on the independence of the role of prime minister until he was ousted last year in favor of Heger.
Bratislava-based political scientist Grigorij Mesežnikov said:
«It’s a great misfortune for this government … that they were unable to eliminate the negative impact of the problematic personalities of its leaders, above all Igor Matovič.»
The resignation of Heger’s government is bad news for Slovakia’s democrats and supporters of western politics. The government came to power in March 2020 amid growing public distaste for the murder of a young Slovak journalist, Ján Kuciak, and his girlfriend, and distaste for the corruption and lawlessness that accompanied former Prime Minister Róbert Fico’s eight-year rule.
In order not to have to choose between the left-leaning Fico and right-wing politicians who had discredited themselves, the voters at that time chose Matović, who had presented himself as a zealous fighter against corruption. Mesežnikov said that Matovic has always been a peculiar politician, and his path to power was directly influenced by the citizens’ dislike of Fico.