Slovak PM Fico's party calls on coalition to end disputes as government frays

Slovakia’s Coalition Crisis: Fico’s Government Faces Internal Disputes

Internal Tensions Threaten Government Stability

Strains Within the Coalition

Sept 30 (Reuters) - Slovakia's main ruling party Smer-SSD said on Wednesday that maintaining the government's majority required a large effort and called on partners to keep internal disputes out of policy.

The comments came after a junior party in the leftist-nationalist coalition on Tuesday voted with the parliamentary opposition to dismiss a minister, raising questions about the survival of pro-Russian Prime Minister Robert Fico's government a year before an election.

Calls for Responsible Governance

• "Smer-SSD calls upon its governing partners to engage in responsible governance," the party said in a statement after a meeting of its leaders on Wednesday evening.

Potential for Early Elections

Supermajority Requirement

• Fico has raised the possibility of an early election, which would require the approval of a supermajority in parliament.

Government Majority Under Threat

Dismissal of Key Minister

• The government's majority is under threat after parliament voted to dismiss Deputy Prime Minister and Environment Minister Tomas Taraba, who has fallen out with the leadership of his far-right Slovak National Party, a junior member of the coalition.

Reliance on Independents

• The three-party government has been dependent on several loyal independents to control 78 seats in the 150-strong parliament.

Policy and Budget Challenges

Need for a Realistic Budget

• Smer-SSD called on coalition partners to approve a realistic 2027 budget, and said the country could not afford temporary fixes or a minority government at this time, given geopolitical challenges, including conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Importance of Stability

• "What Slovakia needs today is simply a stable government capable of making decisions, even if it relies on only a slim parliamentary majority," Fico's party said.

Slovakia’s Position in International Relations

Divergence from EU and NATO Allies

• Slovakia under Fico has diverged from European Union and NATO allies by keeping warm relations with Russia and continuing to import Russian oil and gas.

Public Opinion and Future Prospects

Election Outlook

• Opinion polls show the ruling parties may lose power in an election.

Reporting Credits

(Reporting by Jason Hovet in Prague; Editing by Alex Richardson)