Fico: Energy Prices to Remain Unchanged for Most Households in 2026

Bratislava, 3 August (TASR) – Energy prices in 2026 are expected to remain unchanged for about 90 percent of households, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) announced on social media on Sunday. Fico stated that he will submit such a proposal for gas and heating price compensations to the governing coalition. In his video statement, the Prime Minister also rejected opposition claims suggesting that VAT might be increased to 25 percent. The proposal emerged from consultations with Economy Minister Denisa Sakova (Voice–SD), with whom Fico discussed alternatives for compensating gas and heating prices earlier this week. „Electricity for 2026 has already been addressed,” the Prime Minister noted, while commending the minister for proposing targeted compensation. „We agreed with the minister to present the coalition with an option for gas and heating price compensation in 2026 to cover 90 percent of households,” Fico said. For the remaining higher-income households, Fico added that the Economy Ministry will handle any individual cases requiring compensation separately. „If this proposal receives political approval from the coalition, energy prices will not increase for at least 90 percent of households in 2026,” Fico concluded. He warned that the measure would cost the state hundreds of millions of euros, which would need to be found amid ongoing fiscal consolidation. He also announced the beginning of intensive negotiations with the European Commission regarding the use of EU funds for these compensations. He recalled that the Commission had pledged to seek such options with respect to the approval of the 18th sanctions package against Russia. Fico also denied opposition claims about a possible VAT hike to 25 percent. „It is a lie; we have never discussed such a thing within the coalition,” the prime minister stressed. mf