PS and SaS Slam Slovak Foreign Policy, Say Fico Fails to Inform Public (2)

Bratislava, 28 January (TASR) – Opposition's Progressive Slovakia (PS) and the Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) parties on Wednesday criticised the foreign policy of the current government, warning that Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) insufficiently informs both the cabinet and the public about his foreign trips and talks. SaS points out that the public still does not know the content of Fico's meeting with US President Donald Trump. PS notes that the prime minister has also failed to inform about the aims of his planned talks with French President Emmanuel Macron. "The prime minister again does not consider it necessary to say absolutely anything to either the government or the public about his Thursday visit to France. The only thing we know so far is that there is a huge agenda, but it is apparently so huge that the prime minister does not think it necessary to inform anyone about the goals and topics with which he is leaving," said PS presidium member Ivan Korcok. Korcok believes the prime minister has already acknowledged that ignoring talks within the so-called coalition of the willing was a mistake. "I think the prime minister is literally going to beg for this invitation," he added. Korcok also criticised the lack of information about the prime minister's foreign trip to the United States, pointing out that no material from the trip has yet been submitted to the government. He also criticised the prime minister for withholding information for a longer time on whether Slovakia had received an invitation to the Board of Peace, founded by Trump. The opposition Freedom and Solidarity party also criticised the government's foreign policy, likewise objecting to the lack of information. The party reproached Fico for still not presenting what he had discussed with Trump and warned that publicly available information is rather contradictory. "Fico is pursuing a policy in four world directions that nobody takes seriously anymore. He is ignored in Brussels, does not inform the public at home, and says something different to everyone abroad. With Trump he criticises the European Union, while in the European Union he criticises Trump. This is not how a state's foreign policy should be conducted," said MP Juraj Krupa (SaS). SaS announced it therefore wants to initiate special emergency sessions of the parliamentary Foreign Affairs and European Affairs Committees to demand an explanation from Fico of what he discussed with Trump. The liberals also want to confront the prime minister over his trips to Moscow, Washington and Paris, as well as his appearances at the European Council. "These are trips paid for with taxpayers' money. The public has the right to know what Robert Fico negotiated on behalf of Slovakia," Krupa said. MP Vladimira Marcinkova (SaS) pointed out that the prime minister does not have an unlimited mandate in foreign policy. "Fico does not present his personal opinions, but the positions of Slovakia. Before every European Council meeting he has a constitutional duty to come to the European committee, present his proposals and obtain a parliamentary mandate. His actions today are another embarrassment for our foreign reputation," she commented. She addressed the planned meeting between Fico and Macron too, calling on the Slovak prime minister to act in Slovakia's interests. "He will have the opportunity to convey to France Slovakia's interest in being part of the coalition of the willing and the new framework of European security," she added. NOTE: This story has been extended to include the final two paragraphs mf