Democrats Demand Fico's Resignation and Submit Signatures to Call for Referendum

Bratislava, 23 March (TASR) - The extra-parliamentary Democrats party is calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) and is handing over more than 384,000 signatures collected to President Peter Pellegrini to declare a referendum on shortening the current government's term, representatives of the Democrats party announced at a press conference in front of the Presidential Palace on Monday. The party suggests that the referendum should be held on 27 June 2026. According to party chairman Jaroslav Nad, the referendum aims to bring the current government's term to an early end, to reinstate the Special Prosecutor's Office and the National Crime Agency, and to scrap Fico's lifetime annuity. "Today, I can proudly say that we're officially presenting the public's democratic report card to Robert Fico's government. We're submitting exactly 384,314 signatures from citizens of the Slovak Republic to the president," stated Jaroslav Nad. Nad highlighted that the signatures come from citizens across Slovakia and were collected by party members in hundreds of towns and villages. "These signatures come from ordinary people, from Sobrance [Kosice region] to Kuty [Trnava region]. And this isn't some imaginary number, not some statistic. The signatures weren't bought, they weren't generated by artificial intelligence; they were duly signed by citizens of the Slovak Republic," he stated. Nad also called on the president to declare a referendum. "A referendum is a legitimate tool recognised by the Constitution, and I believe that the head of state will also respect this," he said, adding that the party has met all the legal requirements for calling a referendum. Party vice-chairman Juraj Seliga described the referendum as the only constitutional way to bring the government's term to an early end. "The Constitution and its 2023 amendment open up the possibility of shortening the electoral term prematurely. This is precisely what we've relied on, and it forms the basis of our first question, which states very clearly that if it is successful, it will give MPs a binding instruction to end this electoral term," he stated, emphasising that a referendum is a legitimate tool of direct democracy and that the state has a duty to ensure that it takes place. Seliga noted that the president has 30 days to decide whether to declare a referendum or refer the matter to the Constitutional Court. However, the Democrats don't anticipate such a move. "We don't expect him to approach the Constitutional Court, because he strongly criticised this in the past when former president Zuzana Caputova did so," stated Nad. The Democrats chair also appealed to other opposition parties to support the referendum, noting that the leaders of Progressive Slovakia (PS), Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) and the Christian Democrats (KDH) have promised their support should it be called. He also expects support from the 'Slovakia' party. "I can't imagine that such a referendum, especially one concerning the termination of Robert Fico's government, wouldn't be supported [by 'Slovakia' party leader Igor Matovic, ed. note]," he pointed out. A referendum can be called by the president if at least 350,000 citizens request it via a petition. The Constitution also stipulates that the results of a referendum are valid if a majority of eligible voters participate and if the aim is supported by a majority of those participating in the referendum. NOTE: This story has been extended to include the final four paragraphs. am/df