The opposition says that Slovak leader Fico is preparing to leave the European Union, by Reuters

BRATISLAVA (Reuters) – Slovak opposition leader Michal Simica accused Prime Minister Robert Fico of paving the way for the country’s exit from the European Union as he launched a bid to dismiss the left-wing nationalist government in a vote of no confidence on Tuesday.

It appeared that the opposition’s efforts would fail as the government’s slim majority in parliament was expected to support Fico.

Fico has sought to maintain ties with Russia in the Ukrainian conflict and has halted official military aid to Kiev. He criticized the sanctions imposed on Russia and the dispute with Kiev escalated after Russian gas supplies through Ukraine stopped at the end of 2024.

Fico, leader of the left-wing Smer-SSD party and a four-time prime minister, said Slovakia needed to prepare for “all possible crisis situations” the EU might face in the short term, signaling a break-up of the EU. block.

“This cannot be read in any other way than… what we warned about: that the Smir government is paving the way for Slovakia’s exit from the European Union,” Simica, leader of the Progressive Slovakia party, told parliament.

He added, “I see this as such an existential threat to our national interests that we do not need anything else to declare a withdrawal of confidence.”

The government issued a statement before the vote of no confidence in which it said it was committed to its policy statement declaring that EU membership was irrevocable, but that it reserved the right to criticize. Fico is expected to speak later on Tuesday.

Fico traveled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on an unannounced private trip in December to discuss the gas issue and Ukraine. A delegation of a number of government members in Parliament went to Moscow last week in an effort to improve relations.

He has since accused the opposition of preparing popular protests with the aim of seizing power, which the opposition has denied.

Fico’s government never formally questioned EU or NATO membership, but Fico has traveled to Russia, China, Brazil and Turkey to establish relations as part of what he calls an omnidirectional foreign policy.

It was expected that Fico’s government would be supported by Samir and deputies from the National Socialist Party and the center-left Halas party, giving him enough votes. However, Halas rejected any discussion of EU membership, and many of his deputies protested against Fico’s foreign policy.