The Eurozone demonstrates stability in its support for Ukraine. Unfortunately, the new Slovak government wants something else

Exclusive. At the last EU summit, the European Union once again showed solidarity and consistency in relation to Ukraine. The new Slovak Prime Minister has already announced his intentions in this regard and is trying to move to action.

Robert Fitzo

Last month Fico fulfilled his promise for the first time - "No to ammunition for Ukraine"

Robert Fizo's fourth government caused a stir in Brussels by rejecting a previously prepared bilateral military aid package for Ukraine that included ammunition for the anti-missile defense system that Ukraine already uses.

"Fico's government has blood on its hands," said Progressive Slovakia MEP Martin Hojsik, condemning the decision. The fact is that these air defense systems help Ukrainian forces to intercept Russian missile attacks and thereby save lives, so the decision of Fico's cabinet outraged critics. Instead, it harmonizes with his ancient promises.

Martin Hoisick

Katarina Rot Nevechalova, a member of the European Parliament from the Smer party, denies that the direction of Slovakia's foreign policy has fundamentally changed. "The only thing that has changed is that we have no intention of sending weapons to Ukraine," she said.

What was the impression made by the new government of Slovakia in the two weeks since it came to power, and how did Fico visit the European Union for the first time as the newly appointed prime minister?

Prime Minister Robert Fico represented Slovakia at the EU summit in Brussels in October. Ten years ago, this would have meant a short paragraph at the bottom of a newspaper page. But at the end of October 2023, it was one of the main news of the week.

Fico left for Brussels just a day after President Zuzana Chaputova appointed him and his cabinet. He intended to be appointed head of government in time to be able to represent Slovakia at the summit, which was to discuss the issue of migrants and Ukraine.

His moves have been closely watched in Brussels to see if his flaming anti-Brussels rhetoric, which he and his colleagues have promoted for three years in opposition and above all during the recent election campaign, will come true; or he will adhere to a double approach - to say one thing to the Slovak audience, and to do the opposite at the EU summits - as was the case under previous prime ministers. "As long as they say the wrong things and do the right things, I think we're fine," said the Estonian prime minister Kaya Callas, known for its strong pro-Ukrainian position, about Fico and Orban.

Kaya Callas

Fico stressed at the summit: "To be clear: I will not vote for any sanctions against Russia until we have an analysis of their impact on Slovakia on the table," arguing that previous sanctions had harmed his country.

These are long-awaited words for Orbán, as he has lost his biggest ally in the bloc, Poland's nationalist government.

Much is at stake for Ukraine: Orbán could delay decisions on everything from EU financial support to arms supplies, and could potentially even veto Ukraine's bid for membership – which requires unanimity among the bloc's current members.

Robert Fizo and Viktor Orban

So far, however, European diplomats have said Orbán's praise outside the center of the summit has rarely translated into an intransigent stance behind closed doors. As of February 2022, the 27 countries have held together, even as some sanctions packages have been slowed by Orbán's additional demands.

Slovakia's new government is considering raising taxes and spending and slowly reducing the deficit

Slovakia's new government plans to raise numerous taxes, including on banks, to fund pension growth and other spending, and gradually reduce the eurozone's highest budget deficit under a program approved by the Cabinet of Ministers last week.

Left-wing Robert Fizo became prime minister for a fourth term, directing his anger at critical media, Western partners and liberal politics, and vowing to end military support for Ukraine.

Fico, who formed a coalition with smaller left-wing and nationalist parties, presented the parliament's program for a vote of confidence in his government.

The program offers a special bank profit tax and measures to reduce interest rates on mortgage loans. Special rates will be set for excess profits in other sectors.

The program also includes plans to raise taxes on higher income earners, on real estate, primarily second and third homes, and on alcohol and tobacco. The government will also consider introducing a tax on sugary drinks.

The aim is to improve the consolidation of the state budget, as the budget deficit is expected to be almost 7% of the gross domestic product.

"In 2024, the reduction of the deficit of the public administration sector will amount to 0,5% of GDP to ensure that the standard of living of the population, which is one of the lowest in the European Union, does not deteriorate further," the program says.

Despite the high deficit, the government has committed to an additional 13 pensions on top of the small additional annual payment currently paid.

Minister of Social Affairs Eric Thomas points out that this year the government will provide a one-time benefit of €150 ($160) to each pensioner.

Eric Thomas

Fizo said at the weekend that the government would give tax relief of up to €1800 to households with mortgage interest increases this year, and the government would cover some of the cost of interest rates from 2024.

The program reaffirms Fico's promise to end Slovakia's official military aid to Ukraine and to seek an end to hostilities, while recognizing Ukraine's international borders.

The Prime Minister of Slovakia continues to threaten restrictions on mass media

Robert Fitzo calls major broadcasters and newspapers hostile and says they are "unwelcome guests in a government institution".

Slovak journalists and international observers have expressed alarm after new Prime Minister Robert Fico called the mainstream media hostile and threatened to restrict access to them.

Rally against the journalist's murder

Fico, who led a coalition government, said some of the country's biggest media outlets were not welcome in his office.

"I have announced action against the hostile media - TV Markiza, Denník N, SME and the Aktuality portal," he said, saying they "openly declare hatred and enmity towards Smer and are happy to spread these tendencies."

Candles are still lit in front of the portrait of the murdered Jan Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kushnirova. "They won't be able to kill us all," Slovak journalists say.

"I have decided that we will check their permission to enter and work in the government apparatus," Fizo said, adding that "until a decision is made, they are unwelcome guests in the government apparatus."

Peter Bardy

After returning to power, Fico criticized the country's public broadcaster and made it clear that he disliked independent media. His comments have sparked concern in Bratislava and abroad that press freedom in Slovakia is under threat and that Fico could set the country on a path similar to that of neighboring Hungary. "Fizo is waging a personal war with journalists," he said Peter Bardy, chief editor of Aktuality. Noting that it was still unclear whether Fico would actually ban the media from press conferences, Bardi said: "If that happens, it won't allow us to comment on the practical aspects of the policies they are pursuing." He added: "But the worst part is that this is how they continue their campaign of disinformation against the elected media, instilling in the public the idea that we cannot be trusted because we are lying and hostile." Beata Balogova, editor-in-chief of SME newspaper, echoed some of these concerns, writing on X: “If the European Union is serious about protecting its own values, it should be more than concerned about the state of press freedom in Slovakia.

Beata Balogova

"RSF condemns the verbal attacks of the ruling parties, their attempts to limit access to information and their doubts about the independence of the public broadcaster RTVS." The Slovak government did not respond to a request for comment.

Progressive president of the country Zuzana Chaputova spoke out in defense of press freedom. "The media is part of the blood system of democracy," she wrote on social media.

"I refuse and cannot support the division of parts of society into more or less noble, friendly or hostile."

" Pavol Salai, head of the EU and Balkans department of Reporters Without Borders (RSF), said: "By discriminating against certain media, Fico is also discriminating against some citizens; In fact, the audience of the four target media is a large group of citizens. "Thanks to a pluralistic, dynamic and economically sound media landscape with strong legal guarantees, press freedom is relatively strong in Slovakia." He noted that the country ranks 17th in the World Press Freedom Index, compared to 72nd in Hungary. However, he called for vigilance. "Fizo must not hold back or jeopardize this progress." "We call for an end to hostile rhetoric and actions in the name of the right to information of all citizens."

The new minister of culture is trying to ban the art of the LGBT+ community 

The Ministry of Culture made fun of Dorota Golubova's photos on Instagram. The LGBT+ photo exhibition of Slovak photographer Dorota Golubova was canceled at the Slovak National Museum. In the sensitive photos of the artist's series "Neskryvná Láska" (Unhidden Love), LGBT+ couples are depicted.

Photographer Golubova

Last week, the Ministry of Culture canceled the exhibition in Bratislava Castle. Minister Martin Shimkovichova, which will continue to speak in pro-Russian language TV Slovan, and her ultra-conservative deputy Stefan Kuffa repeatedly made homophobic comments.

"Love is not LGBT+ propaganda," Golubova recently wrote on social networks.

According to Golubova, the cancellation of her planned exhibition is the result of Shymkovichova's directive against LGBT+ art.

"I don't care if anyone believes me, but here's the truth - wrote she's on social media. "The curator told me that the Minister of Culture at a meeting with the leadership raised the bar under LGBT+ propaganda, and that all planned LGBT+ exhibitions were canceled."

LGBT+ photo exhibition

The artist published electronic communication with the curator on social networks. The exhibition was scheduled to take place next year, the emails said.

The National Museum denied Golubova's statements. However, on the same social networks, the Ministry of Culture mocked the news about the alleged ban on LGBT+ art in the national museum by posting laughing emojis rolling on the floor.

LGBT+ photo exhibition

In May, four months before the elections, a rainbow flag was raised over the building of the Museum of History of the National Museum of Majors. Such flags can still be seen on Slovak buildings, they were increased after the high-profile murder last winter in a Bratislava club teplaren.

In 2020, the president Zuzana Chaputova and the royal couple of the Netherlands visited Golubova's exhibition.

Maryna Kovalchuk, Newssky's own correspondent (Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland), V5 Media project manager, deputy editor-in-chief