Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer). (source: SME - Marko Erd)
Welcome to your weekly commentary and overview of news from Slovakia. With the support of just 76 MPs out of 150, the coalition can no longer be sure that its laws will pass. Fico accepts an invitation to Moscow, and others want to go too. The indicted central bank governor, a former Smer finance minister, is off the hook after a court ruling.
If you have a suggestion on how to make this overview better, let me know at michaela.terenzani@spectator.sk.
The coalition is struggling to keep its head above water
Robert Fico is now leading a coalition in crisis, with a critical vote in parliament due in the coming days.
Parliament began its last session of the year early last week but has yet to complete the most important task on its 2024 to-do list: passing the state budget for next year, one that the country needs even though the budgetary council and the central bank are rather critical of it.
Instead of debating the budget, coalition MPs spent most of their time last week dealing, once again, with their own dramas. The coalition has yet to resolve the situation concerning the three former Slovak National Party (SNS) MPs around Rudolf Huliak, meaning the government can now rely on the votes of only 76 MPs in the 150-strong house.
Fico, who was present in parliament on Wednesday, admitted in a video over the weekend that governing the country with 76 MPs is not sustainable and that he finds the "pictures from the parliament" regrettable.
