In Bratislava on January 21, Slovak opposition leader Michal Simecka initiated a no-confidence vote aimed at ousting the leftist-nationalist government, alleging Prime Minister Robert Fico's intentions to lead Slovakia out of the EU.
Despite the opposition's efforts, the government, benefiting from a narrow majority in parliament, was anticipated to support Fico. The Prime Minister's stance on maintaining relationships with Russia during the conflict and his criticism of sanctions on Russia have caused controversy.
Simecka claimed that Fico's policies posed a threat to national interests, accusing the government of actively paving the way for Slovakia's exit from the EU. Fico defended his actions as necessary precautions in a rapidly changing world but emphasized the significance of NATO and EU ties in determining foreign policy decisions.
Fico expressed concerns over the potential loss of national sovereignty in a hypothetical future scenario involving a superstate, arguing against expanding the EU's majority voting to minimize national influence.
While Fico's administration was expected to garner support from certain parties, dissent within the coalition emerged, particularly from the centre-left Hlas party, which rejected discussions on EU membership due to conflicting views on Fico's foreign policy approach.