Slovak Prime Minister Accused of Threatening EU Membership as Tensions Escalate
The opposition alleges that Robert Fico is preparing for Slovakia's exit from the EU, while the government accuses the opposition of organizing disruptive protests.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico faced accusations from the opposition on Tuesday of setting the stage for a possible exit from the European Union.
The allegations emerged during a heated parliamentary session where the liberal pro-Western opposition retracted a no-confidence motion against Fico's government, citing procedural concerns.
The motion, which seemed unlikely to pass due to the government’s narrow majority, was withdrawn after the debate was closed to the public under the guise of discussing sensitive information.
Opposition leader Michal Simecka of Progressive Slovakia contended that Fico's actions and statements, including his criticism of EU sanctions against Russia and his visit to Moscow for discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin in December, indicate a shift in Slovakia's foreign policy.
Simecka accused Fico's administration of laying the groundwork for a withdrawal from the EU, a claim Fico refuted, while expressing his apprehensions over potential EU reforms, such as the formation of a 'superstate' without veto rights for smaller nations.
Fico, who heads the leftist-nationalist Smer-SSD party and is in his fourth term as prime minister, has upheld relations with Russia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Under his leadership, Slovakia has ceased military assistance to Ukraine and criticized sanctions on Moscow.
Fico’s government has also experienced strained relations with Kyiv, particularly after Slovakia halted the transit of Russian gas supplies at the end of 2024.
In response to the opposition’s claims, Fico cautioned about alleged plans for disruptive protests, asserting that the opposition intended to occupy government buildings and collaborate with foreign entities to destabilize his administration.
He compared the supposed plans to the 2014 Maidan protests in Ukraine, which resulted in the removal of a pro-Russian president.
Opposition leader Simecka dismissed Fico's assertions as unfounded, accusing him of staging a 'farce' in parliament and pledged to initiate a new no-confidence motion.
The rising tensions underscore the increasing political polarization in Slovakia, an EU and NATO member, as debates over its foreign policy and relationships with both the EU and Russia intensify.
The allegations emerged during a heated parliamentary session where the liberal pro-Western opposition retracted a no-confidence motion against Fico's government, citing procedural concerns.
The motion, which seemed unlikely to pass due to the government’s narrow majority, was withdrawn after the debate was closed to the public under the guise of discussing sensitive information.
Opposition leader Michal Simecka of Progressive Slovakia contended that Fico's actions and statements, including his criticism of EU sanctions against Russia and his visit to Moscow for discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin in December, indicate a shift in Slovakia's foreign policy.
Simecka accused Fico's administration of laying the groundwork for a withdrawal from the EU, a claim Fico refuted, while expressing his apprehensions over potential EU reforms, such as the formation of a 'superstate' without veto rights for smaller nations.
Fico, who heads the leftist-nationalist Smer-SSD party and is in his fourth term as prime minister, has upheld relations with Russia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Under his leadership, Slovakia has ceased military assistance to Ukraine and criticized sanctions on Moscow.
Fico’s government has also experienced strained relations with Kyiv, particularly after Slovakia halted the transit of Russian gas supplies at the end of 2024.
In response to the opposition’s claims, Fico cautioned about alleged plans for disruptive protests, asserting that the opposition intended to occupy government buildings and collaborate with foreign entities to destabilize his administration.
He compared the supposed plans to the 2014 Maidan protests in Ukraine, which resulted in the removal of a pro-Russian president.
Opposition leader Simecka dismissed Fico's assertions as unfounded, accusing him of staging a 'farce' in parliament and pledged to initiate a new no-confidence motion.
The rising tensions underscore the increasing political polarization in Slovakia, an EU and NATO member, as debates over its foreign policy and relationships with both the EU and Russia intensify.
Translation:
Translated by AI
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