Saturday marked exactly two years since the appointment of Prime Minister Robert Fico’s fourth government. As the anniversary passes, coalition and opposition leaders have offered sharply contrasting assessments of its performance — and attention is turning to an upcoming constitutional deadline that could test the cabinet’s standing in parliament.
Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok, leader of the Hlas-SD party, described the past two years as a period of “stability, responsibility, and concrete results.” He highlighted reduced illegal migration and improved security as key achievements in his ministry.
Roman Michelko of the Slovak National Party (SNS) praised the government’s progress in building hospitals and motorway sections, calling infrastructure one of its major successes.
Opposition leaders, however, painted a far darker picture. Michal Šimečka, head of Progressive Slovakia, said “every additional day this government stays in power poses a risk to the safety, health, and wallets of Slovak citizens.” He accused the government of discrediting the Slovak Information Service (SIS) by appointing Pavol Gašpar as its director.
Under the Constitutional Act on Budgetary Responsibility, the government must seek a vote of confidence in parliament after two years in office — in this case, following November 21. The ruling Smer party says it is aware of this obligation, while opposition parties have warned that if the government fails to act, they will take the issue to the Constitutional Court.
Each new government enjoys a two-year exemption from Slovakia’s so-called debt brake — a rule that triggers sanctions when public debt exceeds 50 percent of GDP. Once this period expires, the cabinet must formally request parliament’s confidence, regardless of the debt level.
Opposition MP Juraj Krúpa from the SaS party expressed concern that the government might try to avoid the vote, saying on Slovak Radio that failing to hold it would amount to a violation of the law.
Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár (Smer) rejected those claims, arguing that the law does not specify an exact deadline for the request. He also said the government is confident of winning such a vote, given its parliamentary majority.
Constitutional lawyer Marián Giba from Comenius University disagrees, saying the government’s obligation is “absolutely clear.” He added:
“The duty to request a vote of confidence arises here and should be fulfilled without undue delay. It is not customary to set deadlines, as it is assumed that constitutional actors act responsibly even without them.”
The SaS party has also urged President Peter Pellegrini to push the government to take this step. The president’s office declined to comment, with spokesperson Patrícia Medveď Macíková saying they would not respond to the matter.
Slovakia’s gross public debt has already climbed close to 60 percent of GDP and is expected to surpass that level in 2025. According to next year’s draft budget, debt could rise by another percentage point to nearly 63 percent of GDP.
Source: Rádiožurnál, Slovak Radio
