Government of Slovakia

History

2023

Prime Minister Fico refuses to block arms supplies to Ukraine from private companies in Slovakia

After winning the election, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in November 2023 softened his campaign promise to cut off military aid to Ukraine, saying his government would not block arms and ammunition supplies from private manufacturers.

Fico, who promised before the September vote that "no patron" would come from Slovakia to the eastern neighbor, said on November 6 that the election promise only concerned supplies from the Slovak army. "If a company wants to produce and sell weapons abroad, we have nothing against it."

A NATO member country with a population of 5.4 million people, producing about 180 thousand artillery shells per year, has become a key supplier of ammunition for Ukraine, which also received Slovak-made howitzers.

At the same time, the new government of Slovakia blocked the proposal of the previous Cabinet of Ministers to send military assistance to Kyiv for 40.3 million euros.

Robert Fico returns as PM

In October 2023, Robert Fico returns to the post of Prime Minister of Slovakia, promising to challenge EU policies, including migration and sanctions against Russia.

Finance Minister Kazhimir personally, as a courier, handed over a bribe of 50 thousand euros to the head of the financial service

The head of the National Bank of Slovakia Kazhimir in April 2023 was found guilty by the court in the case of bribery during the period when he served as Minister of Finance of the country. He was fined 100 thousand euros. Kazhimir, holding the post of Minister of Finance, acted as a courier and handed over an envelope containing a bribe in the amount of 50 thousand euros, now the ex-head of the financial service of Slovakia, responsible for tax and customs regulation.

2022: Slovakia parliament passes vote of no confidence in Eduard Heger's government

On December 15, 2022, the Slovak parliament voted on the issue of a vote of no confidence in the government led by Eduard Heger. The vote of no confidence was supported by 78 lawmakers in the 150-seat parliament. Now President Zuzana Chaputova will have to appoint a new prime minister, and early elections are also not excluded.

Eduard Heger

The head of the ruling OLANO party, Igor Matovich, had earlier proposed resigning as finance minister if the opposition SaS party, whose representatives left the government in September, withdrew its motion of no confidence in the government. However, after negotiations, SaS rejected the deal, calling the government's resignation inevitable.

"For half a year we have witnessed constant chaos and an unacceptable style of governance. This government does not deserve our trust, "SaS Chairman Richard Sulik said before the vote (quoted by Reuters).

The ruling coalition came to power in 2020 but lost its majority in September 2022 when SaS left the government. Opposition parties have criticised the government for doing too little to help people cope with soaring energy prices amid pressure on Russia.

2021: Resignation of the Slovak government due to the scandal surrounding the Sputnik V vaccine

At the end of March 2021, the government Slovakia resigned due to the scandal surrounding the Russian vaccine. "Sputnik V

On March 30, Slovak President Zuzana Chaputova accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Igor Matovich and instructed ex-Finance Minister Eduard Heger to form a new government.

The political crisis in Slovakia flared up against the background of the situation with the supply of the Sputnik V vaccine. Matovich at the end of February 2021 agreed to supply this drug bypassing partners in the ruling coalition. This caused their discontent. They insisted on waiting for the registration of the Russian drug in the EU.

Slovak government resigns over Sputnik V scandal

Igor Matovich defended his decision, referring to the fact that the country needs vaccination. His resignation was demanded by two of the four parties in the ruling coalition. Due to disagreements in the government, on March 12, the Minister of Health of Slovakia Marek Krajci resigned. A few days later, the ministers of foreign affairs and economics left their posts.

Slovakia has become the second EU country to approve the Russian Sputnik V vaccine for use. By the end of June, 2 million doses of vaccine will be delivered to this state. Matovich jokingly said that he transferred part of Ukraine to Russia for Sputnik V. Ukraine demanded an official apology. Soon the prime minister asked for forgiveness from the Ukrainians. President Zuzana Chaputova also opposed the use of the Sputnik V vaccine.

The media in Slovakia write that Eduard Heger has already presented Chaputova with a list of ministers. This was confirmed by the presidential spokesman Martin Strizhinets.

They discussed a number of topics, as the minister noted, everything will become clear in the following days, he added.

According to the Slovak Spectator, citing sources, some of the ministers who quit in recent weeks will return to the government.^[1]

Notes