Dear friends, and of course, all of you who may not hold me or the entire governing coalition in high regard, today you will hear many strong words and serious declarations. Therefore, allow me to take a slightly different approach in extending my wishes for the very best in 2025.
I trust that everyone had the New Year’s Eve they wished for and prepared. Once again, my thoughts are especially with those who, due to work commitments or illness, were unable to share in the traditional celebrations of the year’s end. And if, for any reason, someone’s New Year’s Eve didn’t go as planned, there’s no need to feel down. Before we know it, another one will be upon us, as our Czech brothers sometimes say, “Time flies like a deer shot in the rear.”
As a young boy, I would watch documentaries about animals on television, wide-eyed with wonder, one of them titled "Will They Survive the Year 2000?" Whether all of them did, I cannot say, but when I think back to how distant and almost magical the year 2000 seemed to me then, I am all the more astonished by the incredible pace of life that has brought us here—to the first day of 2025.
Well, what can we do about it, dear friends? Happy New Year 2025!
Personally, I don’t make any New Year’s resolutions at the start of the year. I believe there’s no need to wait until January 1 to start doing things that can be begun right away. However, as a sportsman, I wholeheartedly support anyone who has decided to change their lifestyle and become more active from today onwards, because life is all about movement.
I must sincerely admit that this morning, my greatest joy was simply being alive. It was, as they say, by the skin of my teeth, and returning to normal life has been, and continues to be, far more challenging than I ever imagined. There’s an old truth: those who love you will make you cry, and those who hate you will make you laugh. When I read or listen to those who, on 15 May, clapped with glee, I can’t help but laugh. They claim I appear tired, that I’ve lost interest.
You see, this is how it goes: we’re dealing with opponents who first attempt to discredit you. They labelled us poachers and spent hours illegally eavesdropping, yet uncovered nothing but men’s chatter. Then they tried to imprison us. When that failed, they resorted to extremes with a gun in hand. Fortunately, that didn’t succeed either. Now they’ve launched a new attack, trying to create the image of a fatigued and demotivated prime minister.
Today, on January 1, 2025, I must disappoint all our detractors. Perhaps I come across as more pessimistic, but that’s only because a pessimist is, in essence, a well-informed optimist. However, anyone observing the obsession of our opponents must admit: even a hundred mosquitoes can wear down an elephant.
I’ll use football terminology to describe the first 25 minutes of the government coalition’s match against an opposition team made up of every kind, colour, and flavour. We scored an early goal to make up for the deficit from the previous match, but our strategy so far has been predominantly defensive. Smer is holding the centre of defence and midfield firmly and steadily, but Hlas on the left wing and the Slovak National Party (SNS) on the right wing are not keeping their numbers in check. If the wings of our defence and midfield don’t stabilise by the end of the first half, we’ll need to adjust our tactics during the break.
The entire team must realise that if we fail in this match, the opposition will show no mercy. They’ll use every means to eliminate us completely, ensuring we never get the chance to play again. And the so-called democratic world will cheer them on because, as we’ve seen in places like Romania and Georgia, when the “wrong” winner prevails, election results are often disregarded. This method of removing inconvenient politicians and political parties is becoming increasingly common and tolerated.
Not only Slovakia, but the entire world is in turmoil. In this chaotic world, we must find our place and protect our interests. The Arabs say that a person should first seek help at the end of their own arm. Here in Slovakia, we say: Help yourself, and even God will help you.
No one is pushing Slovakia out of the European community, which is our natural living space. However, it is becoming evident that selfish national interests of larger states and senseless geopolitical goals are starting to dominate, while the needs of smaller states are being ignored. In global politics, one principle holds absolutely true: it doesn’t matter whether the elephants are fighting or loving—it's always the grass that suffers. I do not wish for Slovakia to become that grass, as we see these days with the halt of gas transit through Ukraine, which will have drastic consequences for all of us in the EU, though not for the Russian Federation.
This is why, in 2025, I will continue to pursue a consistent policy oriented towards all four corners of the world. Our active foreign policy will adhere to international law and respect the sovereignty of others, while focusing on our Slovak national interests. Peace remains at the pinnacle of our priorities.
To our opponents, I say this: we were born with two ears but only one mouth, so we might listen more and speak less. Slovak interests should unite us and should not become the subject of unbridled criticism at any cost. I do not want Slovakia to become anyone’s servant. Only chained bears dance to someone else’s tune. Slovakia will not dance for others; Slovakia must serve only Slovak women, men, and all its citizens.
A warrior acts, while a fool reacts. We act.
Let me return to the metaphorical football match. I am confident that by halftime, both the right and left flanks of our defence and midfield will stabilise, allowing us to stop wasting energy on the internal issues of our coalition partners and instead focus on offence. After many years in politics, I’ve learned that a party can only be successful if it dedicates 90 percent of its energy to fulfilling its programme and just 10 percent to internal matters. If the reverse is true, you may as well write the party off.
I am very pleased that Smer adheres to this principle and does not burden the public with the internal workings of the party. In this context, I also view SNS leader Andrej Danko’s recent statement positively. It offers a constructive approach to resolving the months-long wrangling with Hlas, a situation that our opponents have exploited to overshadow the essence of governance.
Whether anyone wants to acknowledge it or not, amid the bombastic headlines of liberal media and the opposition’s proclamations, we have accomplished significant work. Even if nothing else is recognised, one thing must be: we have brought order to public finances after them and delivered several key points of our government programme—from introducing a full 13th pension to reforms in public procurement and the reduction of VAT on basic food items.
To all the noise from the media and opposition, I would simply add: an empty barrel makes the loudest sound.
By under attack in our football match, I mean focusing all our attention on fulfilling additional points of our programme and ensuring the public is thoroughly informed about our work. I believe we can achieve this even without the so-called opinion-forming media, as long as we have the will to do so. I’ve always adhered to the principle that one should only pull their trousers down when they reach the river.
As for me, let me make it clear: I am fully prepared for a demanding year of work. To the media, I say you won’t be able to keep up with me, whether at home or abroad, with your cameras in tow. No issue is exclusively the prime minister’s domain—if it were, I wouldn’t need ministers. However, in addition to the traditional responsibilities of a prime minister, I will pay special attention to rental housing, the construction of hospitals, and my oversight of government members to ensure the programme’s implementation.
At the same time, we in the governing coalition must remain extremely vigilant, for you can anticipate danger from the front of a ram or the back of a horse. But with our opposition, the media, actors, and NGOs, not even God knows where the next blow will come from.
Dear friends, political adversaries, and mischief-makers alike,
May 2025 bring Slovakia fortune and strength to endure, for not everyone will navigate the coming period as they might wish. As prime minister, I will work tirelessly from dawn until dusk to ensure Slovakia perseveres, earns respect, and that our government delivers on the commitments we’ve made in our programme.
If I sense support and understanding from a significant portion of society, combined with the political experience I’ve gained over the years, I firmly believe this government will not disappoint in the end. As the saying goes, the whip cracks at the end, and an old wolf never loses its way. To quote the Hungarian King Charles Robert of Anjou: Experto credite Roberto—trust the experienced Robert.
And now, to all four corners of the world, let me extend my New Year’s greetings. In Slovak: Šťastný nový rok! From the north in Swedish: Gott nytt år! From the south in Spanish: Feliz año nuevo! From the west in English: Happy New Year! And from the east in Russian: Счастливого Нового Года!
Have a wonderful day, Slovakia.
