Interior Minister and Hlas party leader Matúš Šutaj Eštok in parliament on November 26, 2024. (source: TASR – Martin Baumann)
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Fico’s coalition stumbles on return to parliament
When lawmakers reconvened in the debating chamber early on Tuesday afternoon, many questioned whether Prime Minister Robert Fico’s ruling coalition (Smer-Hlas-SNS) could smoothly open the final parliamentary session of 2024. This uncertainty followed a rebellion by three former coalition MPs, led by ultraconservative Rudolf Huliak, who vowed to boycott the coalition until their demands were met. Their defection reduced the coalition’s majority from 79 to a precarious 76 seats in the 150-seat parliament.
Just a day earlier, on Monday, November 25, Fico, who had largely ignored internal coalition strife until mid-November, insisted his government still held the majority needed to pass key legislation. On Tuesday, he reiterated: “The government and the coalition are fully aware that they hold a narrow majority in parliament.”
Transport Minister Jozef Ráž Jr. (Smer nom.) during a parliamentary session on November 26, 2024 in Bratislava. (source: Martin Baumann)
Shaky start: Despite Fico’s assurances, the coalition faced a rocky beginning. With the opposition refusing to participate, the coalition initially failed to muster the 76 MPs required to open the session. A second attempt narrowly succeeded, allowing the session to proceed.
12 hours: Later that day, the opposition pushed for an extraordinary session to discuss a motion of no confidence in Interior Minister and Hlas party leader Matúš Šutaj Eštok. While the coalition supported opening the session, it demanded the debate be limited to 12 hours—a tactic often employed by the coalition to expedite decisions, as seen during debates on the fiscal consolidation package, changes to the public broadcaster, and criminal laws. “If they [the opposition] had solid arguments, they would destroy the minister in 30 minutes, not 12 hours,” Fico said in the parliament, defending the coalition’s approach. He stressed the urgency of addressing pressing issues, including passing the state budget, before the year’s end.
The outcome: Opposition MPs once again staged a walkout, leaving the coalition without enough votes to cut short the debate. The coalition’s proposals to shorten the discussion failed twice—at 16:09 and 16:30—with Prime Minister Fico blaming the opposition for the impasse. Despite this, the coalition narrowly passed a motion to suspend the debate until February 4, 2025—a date that happens to mark Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok’s 38th birthday. Fico also declared that the coalition would not back any new opposition proposals for an extraordinary session concerning the interior minister, should one be tabled again.
The reasons: Opposition MPs have called for Šutaj Eštok’s removal over a litany of controversies, including police brutality, the murder of a homeless man by a police officer, aggressive police raids on Bratislava clubs, bomb threats to schools, and the harassment of students over Halloween costumes. Further grievances include his dealings with former Czech PM Andrej Babiš regarding the politician’s ties to the communist secret police, the disbanding of the anti-corruption National Crime Agency, changes to criminal laws, an assassination attempt on PM Fico, threats to Slovakia’s security, and issues at the Foreigners’ Police. Critics also cite Šutaj Eštok’s appearance on an extremist-hosted show and a crisis in passport issuance.
MP Rudolf Huliak (independent) in parliament on November 26, 2024. (source: Martin Baumann)
Coalition absentees: The coalition’s struggles were compounded by the absence of several MPs from Fico’s Smer party. Ľubomír Vážny was missing shortly after 13:00, while Dušan Muňko—on loan to the far-right Slovak National Party (SNS) to preserve its caucus—was also absent during critical votes, according to parliamentary records. Jaroslav Baška only reappeared in time to vote on suspending the session until February. Additionally, coalition MP Ján Blcháč (Hlas), undergoing cancer treatment, may miss further votes in the future.
Quote: “76 MPs are here, whenever. It’s just a matter of technique,” SNS leader Andrej Danko claimed on Tuesday, despite the absence of coalition MPs.
Huliak’s gambit: PM Fico made it clear this week that Huliak and his allies stand little chance of advancing their agenda unless they rejoin the Slovak National Party caucus. The group broke away in late October following a bitter falling-out with SNS leader Andrej Danko. Huliak, an avid hunter, has staked his demands: he wants one of the SNS-controlled ministries—preferably the Environment Ministry—and greater clout within the coalition in exchange for his support. Though Huliak chairs his own extra-parliamentary party, the National Coalition, his path to parliament came via the SNS slate, helping the SNS win parliamentary seats. Now, Huliak finds himself at the heart of a power struggle that could reshape the coalition dynamics. The coalition has already issued public threats against him if he acts against their interests.
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RANKINGS
Slovakia’s top law firms unveiled
Peter Štrpka and David Soukeník from Soukeník - Štrpka, the largest law firm in Slovakia. (source: Jozef Jakubčo)
The latest ranking of Slovakia’s largest law firms offers a deep dive into the legal landscape, categorising firms based on their areas of expertise.
Since 2014, The Slovak Spectator, in collaboration with FinStat, has been providing the public with an insightful overview of legal services in Slovakia. This year’s rankings reveal that SOUKENÍK – ŠTRPKA has claimed the top spot. But there’s more beneath the surface – let’s have a closer look.
FREE EVENT IN BRATISLAVA
Error
A performance by Theatre Rozkoš from the Czech Republic at the 2018 Error festival. (source: Facebook - Divadlo bez domova)
The international homeless theatre festival ERROR will be held on November 29 and 30 at the Pistori Palace in Bratislava, with an online option for global access. The festival will feature performances from theatre groups across the V4 countries (Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary), alongside contributions from Italy and Spain, bringing a diverse array of voices to the stage.
IN OTHER NEWS
President Peter Pellegrini has vetoed an amendment to the Act on Free Access to Information. The head of state opposes the introduction of a new provision in the revision, specifically the ‘particularly extensive search for information,’ which could involve charging a special fee. The president has returned the legislation to parliament for renegotiation.
The prosecutor rejected the complaint of Lukáš Machala, a conspiracy theorist and Kremlin-friendly chief of staff at the Culture Ministry, in the case of the police-dismissed criminal complaint regarding the petition against the extremist Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová. (TASR)
Police have arrested a man who allegedly threatened the editor-in-chief of a regional media outlet in Dunajská Streda, southern Slovakia, with setting fire to the newsroom in connection with a published story. According to initial reports, the man reportedly intended to extend his threats to several national media outlets.
Smer MP Richard Glück proposed a bill under which PM Robert Fico (Smer) would no longer be required to attend the European Affairs Parliamentary Committee meetings before European Council sessions. Glück aims to change the parliamentary rules of procedure through an amendment to an unrelated law, said SaS MP Vladimíra Marcinková. (Denník N)
Almost half of next year’s budget is allocated to four key public policies: social policy, the environment, education, and health care. In all of these areas, the Supreme Audit Office identifies significant risks.
The company, in which former justice minister Gábor Gál is involved, has been fined €20,000 by heritage authorities for destroying prehistoric pottery during a development project in Galanta, southern Slovakia. Gál has denied any wrongdoing and has taken the matter to court. (Hospodárske noviny)
On the left, Nino Marcelli (Slovan Bratislava) and on the right, Ruben Loftus-Cheek (AC Milan) during the fifth round of the Champions League group stage match between Slovan Bratislava and AC Milan on November 26, 2024, in Bratislava. Footballers of Slovan Bratislava recorded their fifth defeat in the group stage on Tuesday. (source: Pavel Neubauer)
WEDNESDAY SKY WATCH: Throughout the day, cloudy to overcast skies will prevail. Early in the day, fog is expected in some areas. Occasional rain or showers are likely, particularly in the northern regions. Daytime temperatures will reach a maximum of 2°C to 7°C, with temperatures in the west potentially rising to 10°C. (SHMÚ)
PARTY TIME: Happy namesday to all the Milans out there! Celebrate in style this Wednesday, November 27—it’s your special day in Slovakia!
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