Fico planning Slovakia’s EU exit, opposition leader says
Prime minister said the country needed to prepare for ‘all possible crisis situations’
21 January 2025 - 16:33
byRadovan Stoklasa and Jan Lopatka
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Progressive Slovakia party leader Michal Simecka speaks during a parliamentary session amidst a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Robert Fico's government, in Bratislava, Slovakia, on January 21 2025. Picture: RADOVAN STOKLASA/REUTERS
Bratislava — Slovak opposition leader Michal Simecka launched an attempt to dismiss the leftist-nationalist government in a no-confidence vote on Tuesday, accusing Prime Minister Robert Fico of laying the groundwork to take the country out of the EU.
The opposition effort looked set to fail as the government's slim majority in parliament was expected to back Fico.
Fico has sought to maintain relations with Russia during the war in Ukraine and halted official military aid to Kyiv. He has criticised sanctions on Russia and escalated a rift with Kyiv after Russian gas supplies through Ukraine stopped at the end of 2024.
Fico, leader of the leftist Smer-SSD party and a four-time prime minister, has said Slovakia needed to prepare for “all possible crisis situations” which the EU could face in the short term, suggesting even a break-up of the bloc.
“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 EU,” Simecka, the 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.”
Fico told parliament that foreign policy was determined by Nato and EU membership but Slovakia could not be “static” in a fast-developing world.
“What if a group of three or four large countries comes and says, ladies and gentlemen, either there will be a superstate where you lose all your national sovereignty ... or go your own way?” Fico said. “We are speaking of a development that can happen very fast.”
Fico reiterated his stance against extending the EU’s majority voting to more areas, which would limit the power of national vetoes.
Fico travelled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on a unannounced private trip in December to discuss gas and Ukraine. A delegation of several pro-government MPs went to Moscow last week seeking to improve ties.
The prime minister has since accused the opposition of preparing popular protests with the aim of seizing power, which the opposition has denied.
Fico has also travelled to China, Brazil and Turkey to forge ties under what he calls a foreign policy in all directions.
Fico’s cabinet was expected to be backed by Smer as well as deputies from the nationalist SNS and centre-left Hlas party, giving him enough votes to survive. However, Hlas has rejected any discussion over EU membership, and several of its deputies have protested against Fico’s foreign policy.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Fico planning Slovakia’s EU exit, opposition leader says
Prime minister said the country needed to prepare for ‘all possible crisis situations’
Bratislava — Slovak opposition leader Michal Simecka launched an attempt to dismiss the leftist-nationalist government in a no-confidence vote on Tuesday, accusing Prime Minister Robert Fico of laying the groundwork to take the country out of the EU.
The opposition effort looked set to fail as the government's slim majority in parliament was expected to back Fico.
Fico has sought to maintain relations with Russia during the war in Ukraine and halted official military aid to Kyiv. He has criticised sanctions on Russia and escalated a rift with Kyiv after Russian gas supplies through Ukraine stopped at the end of 2024.
Fico, leader of the leftist Smer-SSD party and a four-time prime minister, has said Slovakia needed to prepare for “all possible crisis situations” which the EU could face in the short term, suggesting even a break-up of the bloc.
“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 EU,” Simecka, the 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.”
Fico told parliament that foreign policy was determined by Nato and EU membership but Slovakia could not be “static” in a fast-developing world.
“What if a group of three or four large countries comes and says, ladies and gentlemen, either there will be a superstate where you lose all your national sovereignty ... or go your own way?” Fico said. “We are speaking of a development that can happen very fast.”
Fico reiterated his stance against extending the EU’s majority voting to more areas, which would limit the power of national vetoes.
Fico travelled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on a unannounced private trip in December to discuss gas and Ukraine. A delegation of several pro-government MPs went to Moscow last week seeking to improve ties.
The prime minister has since accused the opposition of preparing popular protests with the aim of seizing power, which the opposition has denied.
Fico has also travelled to China, Brazil and Turkey to forge ties under what he calls a foreign policy in all directions.
Fico’s cabinet was expected to be backed by Smer as well as deputies from the nationalist SNS and centre-left Hlas party, giving him enough votes to survive. However, Hlas has rejected any discussion over EU membership, and several of its deputies have protested against Fico’s foreign policy.
Reuters
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Related Articles
EU ready to work with US, says Von der Leyen
EU can match US, China with integrated energy market, IMF says
Jean-Marie Le Pen, founder of France’s post-war far right, dies aged 96
Former Greek premier Simitis dies aged 88
Poland protests over Hungarian asylum for opposition politician
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.