Opposition Again Urges Premier Fico to Call Off His Trip to Moscow (2)

Bratislava, May 7 (TASR) - The opposition is calling on Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) to cancel his planned trip to Moscow for the 80th anniversary celebrations of the end of WWII in the interests of Slovakia. At a joint press conference on Wednesday, representatives of opposition parties Progressive Slovakia (PS), Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), the Christian Democrats (KDH) and the non-parliamentary 'Democrats' stated that they consider this move to be a disgrace and another low point for Slovak foreign policy. They warned that it risks undermining trust among Slovakia's allies and partners. According to them, Fico isn't going to Moscow to represent Slovakia, but to serve his own interests. They also pointed out that he's the only EU prime minister planning to attend the event. Meanwhile, opposition parties 'Slovakia' and 'For the People' urged Fico to come up with an excuse not to travel and thus avoid what they described as "treason against the Slovak Republic". Michal Simecka, the leader of PS, called Fico's planned trip "one of the worst moments in Slovak foreign policy". "At a time when we need a united Europe and strong ties with our allies, Robert Fico is giving them the middle finger. He's the only EU prime minister going to Moscow to bow to a dictator and war criminal," said Simecka. Simecka agreed that Slovakia should develop diplomatic relations beyond Europe, including at the level of the prime minister, but he stated that "a propaganda event in Moscow" is not the way to do it. Ivan Korcok, a member of PS leadership and former foreign minister (2020-23), added that the trip is "a gross violation of Slovakia's interests and a slap in the face of Slovak citizens and our allies". Simecka also emphasised that the united stance among the opposition parties shows there is a real alternative to the current coalition government. "Standing here with me are representatives of conservative and liberal parties who may not agree on everything, but when it comes to democracy, freedom and Slovakia's place in Europe, we are on the same page and we won't back down." The opposition leaders also announced that they will commemorate Victory Day (May 8) with gatherings in multiple Slovak cities, and they encouraged people to join in. MP Frantisek Miklosko (KDH) criticised claims that peace talks will take place in Moscow, calling this "communist propaganda". "Putin says that he will not back down and won't end the war until his demands are met, while he continues killing senselessly, murdering young people and Ukrainians. Talking peace now is just ideology and propaganda," he said. MP Maria Kolikova (SaS) also spoke. "You can't celebrate the victory over fascism with a fascist. What Nazi Germany was in World War II, Russia under Vladimir Putin is today," she stated. Kolikova added that if Fico were a sovereign leader, he would focus on making it clear that Slovakia is a strong part of the EU and NATO. Juraj Krupa (SaS) said that Fico isn't honouring the memory of the Red Army's liberation of Czechoslovakia, but is "bowing to the Russian army that invaded Ukraine, kills civilians, kidnaps children and destroys infrastructure". The non-parliamentary Democrats also joined the call. "In the midst of the brutal aggression against Ukraine, visiting Moscow is not an act of statesmanlike courage, as some want to frame it, but an act of political weakness — weakness in the face of autocracy and tyranny, a betrayal of the values of democracy and freedom that are the foundation of our EU and NATO membership and of the gains of 1989," declared party leader Jaroslav Nad. Nad criticized Fico for "asking the West for money while showing loyalty to Moscow". "Is this what a sovereign foreign policy looks like? No, it's spinelessness and a show of servitude to Vladimir Putin," he added. Representatives of 'Slovakia' and 'For the People' likewise urged Fico to cancel the trip, saying that he intends to "bow to a man who has murdered 682 children in Ukraine and wave to soldiers who kill innocent civilians". "Only someone completely lacking empathy could go to Moscow and cheer for soldiers who commit such atrocities," said MP Veronika Remisova (For the People). "It's a huge disgrace, and no other EU politician is willing to subject themselves to that." Igor Matovic, leader of the 'Slovakia' party, warned: "If Fico goes through with this trip, no one in Europe will talk to him again. Every democratic person in Slovakia and the EU is asking why the leader of a free, democratic EU country is going to bow to a murderer like Putin. If Fico has even a shred of conscience, he'll come up with an excuse and not commit this act of treason on Friday." Fico plans to attend the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII in Moscow, where he has already said that he intends to pay tribute to the thousands of Red Army soldiers who were killed liberating Slovakia and to the millions of victims of Nazi atrocities. He also plans to hold several bilateral meetings, emphasising his desire to build bridges between East and West and rejecting a so-called new 'Iron Curtain'. mf/df