Prime Minister Robert Fico addressed students at the Oxford Union in May 2013. (source: YouTube)
Prime Minister Robert Fico will address the Oxford Union on Tuesday, marking a return to the historic debating society more than a decade after his first appearance, according to Denník N. His brief visit to Britain, lasting only a few hours, will also include a tribute at the graves of Czech and Slovak RAF veterans.
Fico’s trip to the United Kingdom is unofficial, and he will not be received by Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Fico’s office did not announce the Oxford Union appearance during his Sunday press conference, merely stating he would speak to students. The Union, however, has confirmed his lecture on its official programme.
The Oxford Union, independent from the University of Oxford, has long cultivated future leaders, counting among its alumni Boris Johnson, David Cameron, and Theresa May. It has also drawn controversy by inviting polarising figures such as Donald Trump’s former advisor Steve Bannon and Libya’s former leader Muammar Gaddafi.
This year’s guest list has again provoked criticism. Searchlight magazine, a British anti-fascist publication, has labelled Fico “one of Europe’s most controversial right-wing populists”, citing his pro-Kremlin stance and attempts to undermine support for Ukraine.
Fico said his speech would focus on “Europe, sovereignty and the future”, similar to his address at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington earlier this year. No details have been provided about who invited him or who he will meet.
The Oxford Union will also host New York Times London bureau chief Mark Landler, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, and Trump ally Charlie Kirk in the coming weeks.
