Slovak PM says bid to revoke his lifetime benefits ends in "fiasco"

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has described an opposition-organised referendum targeting his post-office benefits as a “fiasco.”

Writing on Facebook, Fico criticised the July 4 vote, which was initiated by the opposition Democrats party. The referendum sought to revoke the lifetime benefits granted to Fico after leaving office and to restore the Special Prosecutor’s Office and the National Crime Agency, both of which had previously been abolished by the government.

“The opposition used yesterday’s referendum only to fuel hatred and exploit the sensitive issue of measures adopted after the assassination attempt against me,” Fico said.

The prime minister argued that his government had not influenced the outcome of the vote. He added that turnout would have been even lower had the authorities fully explained what he described as the “pointlessness” of the initiative. Voter turnout reached 16.13%, well below the 50% threshold required by Slovakia’s Constitution for a referendum to be valid, rendering the results legally ineffective.

Fico also criticised the organisers for spending €12 million from the state budget on the referendum. He noted that some of the same figures had previously criticised government spending on celebrations marking the feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius.

Speaking at a press conference, Fico further argued that the issues raised in the referendum could have been addressed through ordinary legislation in parliament.

By Jeyhun Aghazada