The coalition in Slovakia is considering extending the parliamentary term from four to five years, following similar discussions for local governments. The Slovak National Party (SNS) submitted a proposal for a five-year mandate to the April parliamentary session. Coalition partner Hlas-SD sees this as an attempt by the SNS to attract attention, while the opposition opposes it. Without opposition support, passing a constitutional amendment would be impossible.
“My subjective and private opinion is that I would also extend the government’s term to five years,” said NR SR Deputy Speaker Tibor Gašpar (Smer-SD) in October 2025. Representatives of Smer-SD, including the Prime Minister, have previously argued that a four-year government term is too short to implement necessary reforms. “I fully agree with that. A four-year period is quite short,” said Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Richard Takáč (Smer-SD).
Critics argue that Slovakia is not Russia, “where a few brazen officials decide the length of the term,” said MP Veronika Remišová (Slovakia – For the People). SNS had previously suggested a six-year term but proposed five years as a compromise acceptable to coalition partners. “All representative bodies’ mandates should have the same strength or length,” said SNS parliamentary club chairman Roman Michelko. Education Minister Tomáš Drucker (Hlas-SD) responded: “These topics should be addressed seriously, not to divert attention from key issues.”
The coalition alone cannot implement such a change, as extending the parliamentary term requires a constitutional majority of at least 90 MPs, making the opposition’s stance crucial. “Four years is enough for any government or parliament to show whether they are capable of moving the country forward,” said MP Marián Viskupič (SaS). Opposition MPs described the proposal as an effort “to stay in power as long as possible,” said Július Jakab (Slovakia – For the People), and Zuzana Mesterová (PS) expressed confidence that no opposition MPs would vote for it. KDH Deputy Chairman Viliam Karas confirmed that his party would not support extending MPs’ terms. Michelko added that while the proposal may pass the first reading, the sponsors will need to negotiate a constitutional majority.
Constitutional lawyer Vincent Bujňák warned that the SNS proposal would weaken voter influence, as elections would occur at longer intervals: “Accountability cannot be enforced as quickly in a longer term as it can in a four-year term.” If approved, the amendment would take effect next year, impacting regular elections in 2027 but not the current parliamentary term.
Source: STVR
