Bloomberg: Slovak Prime Minister is going to send the EU and NATO to the "history textbooks"
Slovak Prime Minister Fico said that world events could send the EU and NATO into the “history books," Bloomberg reports. At the same time, the deputy speaker of the country's parliament admitted that Slovakia would consider withdrawing from these structures in the future.
Daniel Hornak
The Prime Minister of Slovakia spoke about the future outside the European Union and NATO, stressing that due to rapidly developing world events, both institutions risk remaining only in the “history textbooks.”
Robert Fico's comments were far from a call for the Eastern European country to withdraw from key alliances, but the prime minister - whose relations with Western allies are increasingly strained — nevertheless violated an obvious taboo for many compatriots.
This is how Fico commented on a remark by a high-ranking official, Tibor Gaspar, a deputy speaker and a member of the same party, who said live on air that due to the changes that have taken place in the EU and NATO since Slovakia joined, the country may consider withdrawing in the future. However, he admitted that it would be a “radical decision.”
The Prime Minister stated that he “absolutely” agrees with Gaspar that the situation for the member states is “constantly changing.” He drew parallels with the Warsaw Pact, noting that the military alliance dominated by the Soviet Union "collapsed in a year.”
“It is true that the EU and NATO are a vital space for us, but no one can stop us from warning Slovakia against various risks,” Fico said on social media.
The Slovak leader returned to power in 2023, promising to strengthen relations with all world powers, including Russia, while confirming the country's membership in the European bloc of 27 countries and the military alliance led by the United States.
However, in recent weeks, following a December meeting in Moscow with President Vladimir Putin and the escalation of the dispute with Ukraine over gas supplies, his government has toughened its rhetoric and harshly criticized Kiev and its EU and NATO allies.
The prospect of leaving the EU was immediately rejected by Slovakia's political elite, including Fico's ally, President Peter Pellegrini, opposition leaders and regional governors (one of whom is the prime minister's party member in the Course —Social Democracy bloc).
Economic risks
By becoming a member of the eurozone and Schengen, Slovakia has deepened its integration since joining the EU and NATO in 2004. Membership in both organizations has been a political goal since the country gained independence after the collapse of Czechoslovakia in 1993.
However, the situation is escalating, and the stakes are rising, and a group of representatives of the Slovak automotive industry said this month that Fico's attempts to move closer to Russia — and, conversely, to distance itself from the transatlantic partnership — jeopardize the country's economic future.
The Prime minister's rhetoric has exacerbated public protests demanding that the country's pro-European course be maintained. The Fico party is losing popularity: according to a number of polls, the Course for Social Democracy is lagging behind the pro—European Progressive Slovakia.
On Sunday, a team of 250 psychologists and psychiatrists signed an open letter to Fico, warning that his increasingly authoritarian style, coupled with information distortions, is splitting the public. They attributed his increased aggression to the consequences of the assassination attempt in May last year, when the prime minister was injured and spent several weeks in intensive care.
“We rely on your ability to introspect and the opportunity to reconsider your political behavior,” the letter said, "even to think about leaving big—time politics."
In response, Fico accused the experts of political bias and called their appeal an attempt to ignite the “Slovak Maidan”, alluding to the pro—European protests in 2014 in Kiev, which ended with the resignation of then-President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych, who fled to Russia.
Opposition parties in Slovakia proposed declaring a vote of no confidence in the parliament in Bratislava on Tuesday. However, despite the differences within the coalition and only a slight advantage, the Prime Minister is expected to survive the vote safely.
