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The coalition has until March to resolve the issue.
News Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Fico assessed the situation and proposed only two possible solutions to the ongoing coalition crisis- early elections or a reshuffle. [Tomas Tkacik/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images]
Languages: Deutsch | Spanish 2025
BRATISLAVA – After months of denying a coalition crisis, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD/NI) admitted coalition parties are not giving their support in parliament and warned of early elections or a government reshuffle.
The parliamentary groups of SNS and Hlas-SD(NI) have either split or are falling apart, leading to problems with the numbers. I am clearly aware of this, Fico said during a political discussion broadcast Sunday on TA3.
The coalition crisis began in October when three MPs led by Rudolf Huliak broke away from the SNS parliamentary group. They insisted on a ministerial seat in exchange for their support for the government, a demand the coalition rejected. Their departure left the ruling coalition with a slim majority of just 76 MPs in the 150-member parliament.
The crisis deepened in December when four Hlas-SD MPs, led by Samuel Migaľ, began to rebel against certain government and coalition proposals. Among other issues, they criticised the ruling coalition’s increasingly warm ties with Moscow and announced plans to travel symbolically to Kyiv as a response.
Fico assessed the situation and proposed only two possible solutions to the ongoing coalition crisis- early elections or a reshuffle.
He also admitted that neither the SNS nor Hlas were in favour of a possible government reshuffle and said he would do everything to make the coalition last.
Fico also appealed to President Peter Pellegrini for help in resolving the situation, explaining that the reason for the appeal was that the list of Hlas candidates had been drawn up by Pellegrini when he was still party leader.
Pellegrini stepped down from the leadership after being elected president in April 2024.
“I address him all the time: Mr. President, I ask you sincerely, this is (your) legacy that remains,” Fico said about Pellegrini on TA3.
He added that the coalition had “until March” to resolve the issue.
(Natália Silenská | Euractiv.sk)
Languages: Deutsch | Spanish 2025
Updated: 13-01-2025
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