Slovak PM preparing for EU exit, opposition says

Slovak opposition leader Michal Simecka has accused Prime Minister Robert Fico of laying the groundwork for Slovakia to leave the European Union, as he launched a no-confidence vote against the leftist-nationalist government on January 21.

However, the opposition's effort appeared unlikely to succeed, with the government's slim parliamentary majority expected to back Fico, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

Fico, who has sought to maintain relations with Russia amid the Ukraine conflict, halted official military aid to Kyiv and criticized sanctions on Russia. The Slovak leader also exacerbated tensions with Ukraine after Russian gas supplies through Ukraine ceased at the end of 2024. Fico, leader of the left-wing Smer-SSD party and a four-time prime minister, has suggested that Slovakia needs to prepare for potential "crisis situations" within the European Union, including the possibility of the EU's collapse.

"This cannot be read in any other way than... what we had warned of: that the government of Smer is preparing the ground for leading Slovakia out of the European Union," Simecka, leader of the Progressive Slovakia party, told parliament.

"I see this as such an existential threat to our national interests that we do not need anything else to declare no-confidence."

Ahead of the no-confidence vote, the government issued a statement affirming that its commitment to EU membership was "irrevocable" but reserving the right to criticize the bloc. Fico, who was expected to speak later on January 21, has previously traveled to Moscow for a private meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in December, where discussions focused on gas and Ukraine. A Slovak parliamentary delegation also visited Moscow last week to strengthen ties.

Fico has since accused the opposition of preparing for popular protests with the intention of seizing power, an allegation the opposition has denied. While his government has never formally questioned Slovakia’s EU or NATO membership, Fico has cultivated ties with Russia, China, Brazil, and Türkiye, promoting a foreign policy of diversification.

Fico’s government was expected to be supported by his party, Smer, as well as the nationalist SNS and the center-left Hlas party, giving him enough votes to survive the no-confidence motion. However, Hlas has rejected any discussions regarding EU membership, and several of its deputies have voiced opposition to Fico’s foreign policy.

Meanwhile, PM Fico accused Slovak opposition of preparing for a "Maidan-Style" uprising, referring to the 2014 protests in Ukraine that led to the ousting of President Yanukovych. Speaking at a press conference alongside Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Fico claimed that while he could not name specific individuals or circumstances, he was certain the opposition was planning to occupy government buildings, disrupt the government’s work, and collaborate with foreign forces.

These accusations follow the release of information by Slovak counterintelligence, which revealed plans to destabilize Slovakia, raising concerns about political unrest. The situation escalated after Slovak opposition members visited Kyiv and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This meeting coincided with an invitation to Fico from Zelenskyy to visit Kyiv, which the Slovak prime minister declined. In his evening address, Zelenskyy expressed his support for the Slovak opposition, further intensifying the political tension.

By Vafa Guliyeva