SaS Criticises Fico Ahead of European Council Meeting

Bratislava, 19 March (TASR) – The opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party has criticised Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) ahead of his participation in a European Council meeting, saying that he's attending the event without respect for Parliament, without results for Slovakia and with a foreign policy that harms national interests. The statements were made by party representatives at a press conference on Thursday. MP Vladimira Marcinkova (SaS) pointed out that since November 2025 the government has failed to request a vote of confidence from Parliament, despite being obliged to do so under the Constitution [with reference to the debt brake - ed. note] "Seventeen government meetings have taken place, but they haven't been able to fulfil this basic constitutional duty. I'm asking what legitimacy this government has, how it can continue proposing laws, raising taxes or addressing the oil crisis when it's unable to meet even the obligations that it swore to uphold when entering Parliament," she said. SaS foreign affairs expert Ivan Novotny described Slovakia's "four-direction" foreign policy as "an absolute failure" with no tangible results. He noted that the prime minister has failed to negotiate anything with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy or Croatian President Zoran Milanovic regarding the oil issue. "Fico may travel the world having photos taken with leaders who share his mindset and values, but the results speak for him and bring nothing," said Novotny, who also suggested that Smer-SD is becoming a branch of Hungary's Fidesz party in Slovakia. According to MP Juraj Krupa (SaS), the prime minister is defending the interests of Hungary or Russia when it comes to the oil issue. "We're calling on Robert Fico to finally start defending Slovak interests, not Russian interests or imperial ambitions, meaning those of the Russian Federation or of Viktor Orban, with whom he has aligned himself and whom he is now trying to assist in his election campaign, because he knows that if Orban loses, he'll be left isolated," stated Krupa. MP Karol Galek (SaS) highlighted what he described as chaos in the energy and fuel sectors. He warned that restrictions on diesel consumption at filling stations could halt the construction industry in Slovakia, while transit traffic and incoming motorists will refuel before crossing the Slovak border. "The situation is serious, there is a shortage of fuel on the market. This is the fault of Robert Fico, who has completely neglected diversification," added Galek. mf/df