Slovak Prime Minister Accused of Jeopardizing EU Membership Amid Escalating Tensions
The opposition asserts that Robert Fico is preparing Slovakia for an EU departure, while the government accuses the opposition of organizing disruptive protests.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico faced accusations from the opposition on Tuesday, alleging he is preparing Slovakia for a possible departure from the European Union.
These allegations emerged during a heated parliamentary session, where the liberal pro-Western opposition withdrew a no-confidence motion against Fico's government, citing procedural issues.
The motion, which was unlikely to pass due to the government’s narrow majority, was retracted after the debate was closed to the public under the guise of discussing confidential information.
Opposition leader Michal Simecka of the Progressive Slovakia party argued that Fico's actions and statements, including his criticism of EU sanctions against Russia and his December visit to Moscow for discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, indicate a shift in Slovakia's foreign policy.
Simecka accused Fico's government of laying the groundwork for a withdrawal from the EU, a claim Fico denied while expressing his concerns over possible EU reforms, such as the creation of a 'superstate' without veto powers for smaller nations.
Fico, the leader of the leftist-nationalist Smer-SSD party and in his fourth term as prime minister, has maintained connections with Russia amidst the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Under his leadership, Slovakia has stopped military aid to Ukraine and has been critical of sanctions on Moscow.
Fico’s government has also encountered strained relations with Kyiv, especially after Slovakia ended the transit of Russian gas supplies at the close of 2024.
In response to the opposition’s allegations, Fico warned of supposed plans for disruptive protests, claiming the opposition aimed to occupy government buildings and collaborate with foreign actors to destabilize his administration.
He compared the alleged plans to the 2014 Maidan protests in Ukraine, which resulted in the ousting of a pro-Russian president.
Opposition leader Simecka dismissed Fico's assertions as unfounded, accusing him of orchestrating a 'farce' in parliament and vowed to pursue a new no-confidence motion.
The growing tensions underscore the increasing political polarization in Slovakia, an EU and NATO member state, as debates over its foreign policy and relations with both the EU and Russia intensify.
These allegations emerged during a heated parliamentary session, where the liberal pro-Western opposition withdrew a no-confidence motion against Fico's government, citing procedural issues.
The motion, which was unlikely to pass due to the government’s narrow majority, was retracted after the debate was closed to the public under the guise of discussing confidential information.
Opposition leader Michal Simecka of the Progressive Slovakia party argued that Fico's actions and statements, including his criticism of EU sanctions against Russia and his December visit to Moscow for discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, indicate a shift in Slovakia's foreign policy.
Simecka accused Fico's government of laying the groundwork for a withdrawal from the EU, a claim Fico denied while expressing his concerns over possible EU reforms, such as the creation of a 'superstate' without veto powers for smaller nations.
Fico, the leader of the leftist-nationalist Smer-SSD party and in his fourth term as prime minister, has maintained connections with Russia amidst the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Under his leadership, Slovakia has stopped military aid to Ukraine and has been critical of sanctions on Moscow.
Fico’s government has also encountered strained relations with Kyiv, especially after Slovakia ended the transit of Russian gas supplies at the close of 2024.
In response to the opposition’s allegations, Fico warned of supposed plans for disruptive protests, claiming the opposition aimed to occupy government buildings and collaborate with foreign actors to destabilize his administration.
He compared the alleged plans to the 2014 Maidan protests in Ukraine, which resulted in the ousting of a pro-Russian president.
Opposition leader Simecka dismissed Fico's assertions as unfounded, accusing him of orchestrating a 'farce' in parliament and vowed to pursue a new no-confidence motion.
The growing tensions underscore the increasing political polarization in Slovakia, an EU and NATO member state, as debates over its foreign policy and relations with both the EU and Russia intensify.
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