Slovakia’s parliament officially confirmed Prime Minister Robert Fico’s government on Tuesday, endorsing a policy agenda that includes a commitment to halt state military aid to Ukraine, gradual reduction of budget deficits, and the implementation of a new bank tax. Fico, re-elected in September, criticized critical media, Western partners, and liberal policies during his campaign, securing his fourth term as prime minister on October 25.
Fico’s governing coalition, comprising his leftist and socially conservative SMER-SSD party along with a smaller leftist party and a small nationalist party, recently adopted its policy program. Parliament demonstrated support for the agenda through a vote of confidence on Tuesday.
The program introduces a special tax on banking profits, measures to decrease interest rates on mortgages, and levies targeting excessive profits in unspecified sectors. A key objective is to reduce the general government deficit by 0.5% of GDP by 2024, addressing the euro zone’s largest deficit, estimated at nearly 7% of GDP for this year.
Aligned with Fico’s campaign promise, the program outlines a cessation of Slovakia’s official military aid to Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion, emphasizing a pursuit of peace while recognizing Ukraine’s international borders. Additionally, it reiterates opposition to ending national veto rights of European Union member states or moving towards majority voting in additional areas.
Despite parliamentary approval, the opposition voted against the program, citing concerns about Fico’s attacks on independent media and dismissals of high-ranking police officials who had investigated members of the new ruling coalition for graft.
