German Chancellor Merz Has Not Planned Slovakia Visit, Berlin Says

Berlin/Bratislava, 14 May (TASR) - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has not planned an official visit to Slovakia, a German government spokesperson confirmed to TASR on Thursday in response to media reports about the alleged cancellation of Merz's upcoming trip to Bratislava. "The chancellor's programme is usually published one week in advance. However, in light of continuing speculation, we would like to inform you that the chancellor currently does not plan, nor had he planned, an official visit to Slovakia," reads the statement. Prime Minister Robert Fico first announced Merz's visit in April during an informal EU summit in Nicosia, saying it would take place before the end of May. On Saturday (9 May), while returning from Moscow, where he attended Victory Day celebrations as the only EU leader present, Fico specified that the visit had been scheduled for 29 May. Vice-chair of Progressive Slovakia and former Slovak foreign minister (2020-22) Ivan Korcok said at a press conference on Thursday that Merz's planned visit to Slovakia will not take place. According to Korcok, the reason was Fico's visit to Russia. As Korcok noted, the Slovak side repeatedly announced and confirmed the visit even though the German side had never officially confirmed it. The German chancellor criticised the Slovak prime minister for his trip to Moscow and said he intended to discuss it with him. "Robert Fico knows that we disagree on this issue. I very much regret it and we will discuss this day in Moscow with him," Merz said during a joint press conference with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Stockholm. mf