Wikipedia

Fico's Fourth Cabinet

Fico's Fourth Cabinet is the incumbent government of Slovakia. It is a three-party coalition government composed of Direction – Social Democracy, Voice – Social Democracy and the Slovak National Party.

Fourth Cabinet of Robert Fico

Government of Slovakia
Date formed25 October 2023
People and organisations
President of SlovakiaZuzana Čaputová
Head of governmentRobert Fico
Deputy head of government
No. of ministers17
Member parties
Status in legislatureSimple majority (coalition)
79 / 150 (53%)
Opposition parties
Opposition leaderMichal Šimečka
History
Election(s)2023 Slovak parliamentary election
PredecessorÓdor's Cabinet

It was appointed on 25 October 2023 by President Zuzana Čaputová following the 2023 Slovak parliamentary election.[1][2] The National Council passed a vote of confidence in the government on 21 November 2023.[3]

Composition edit

Portfolio Minister Took office Left office Party
Government's Office
Prime Minister25 October 2023Incumbent SMER–SD
Ministry of Defence
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence25 October 2023Incumbent SMER–SD
Ministry of Economy
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy25 October 2023Incumbent HLAS–SD
Ministry of Environment
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Environment25 October 2023Incumbent SNS
Deputy Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister for the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and Utilization of Eurofunds
Peter Kmec
25 October 2023Incumbent HLAS–SD
Ministry of Finance
Minister of Finance25 October 2023Incumbent SMER–SD
Ministry of Transport and Construction
Minister of Transport and Construction25 October 2023Incumbent SMER–SD
Ministry of Agriculture
Minister of Agriculture25 October 2023Incumbent SMER–SD
Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatization
Minister of Investments, Regional Development and Informatization25 October 2023Incumbent HLAS–SD
Ministry of Interior
Minister of Interior25 October 2023Incumbent HLAS–SD
Ministry of Justice
Minister of Justice25 October 2023Incumbent SMER–SD
Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs
Foreign Minister25 October 2023Incumbent SMER–SD
Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family
Minister of Labour, Social Affairs and Family25 October 2023Incumbent HLAS–SD
Ministry of Education, Science and Research
Minister of Education, Science and Research25 October 2023Incumbent HLAS–SD
Ministry of Culture
Minister of Culture25 October 2023Incumbent SNS
Ministry of Health
Minister of Health25 October 2023Incumbent HLAS–SD
Ministry of Tourism and Sport
Minister of Tourism and Sport
Dušan Keketi
1 February 2024Incumbent SNS

Supporting parties edit

Group/party Ideology Leader Deputies
Smer[d]
Direction – Social Democracy 		Left-wing nationalism Robert Fico
42 / 150
Hlas[d]
Voice – Social Democracy 		Social democracy Peter Pellegrini
27 / 150
Slovak National Party[d] SNS
Slovak National Party 		Ultranationalism Andrej Danko
6 / 150
NK/NEKA
National Coalition/Independent Candidates 		Ultranationalism Rudolf Huliak
3 / 150
Slovak Patriot Ultranationalism Miroslav Radačovský
1 / 150

Issues edit

Domestic policy edit

Rule of law edit

In December 2023, the Fourth Cabinet of Robert Fico introduced an amendment to the Criminal Code. The government proposed that the bill be debated in a fast-track legislative procedure, arguing that the status quo leads to human rights violations. The amendment included scrapping the Special Prosecutor's Office dealing with high-level corruption and lowering penalties for financial crimes. The fast-track legislative procedure faced widespread criticism from the parliamentary opposition, President Zuzana Čaputová, the European Commission and non-governmental organizations, resulting in a weeks-long opposition parliamentary obstruction and a series of demonstrations.[4]

Critics have raised questions about potential conflicts of interest within the government coalition. They have noted that various individuals with perceived affiliations to the government, alongside accused members of the coalition parties, including the bill's rapporteur, MP Tibor Gašpar of Smer, could be directly affected by the proposed lowering of penalties. Additionally, their cases are overseen by the Special Prosecutor's Office, which the amendment would abolish. The coalition government introduced the amendment, citing the need to shift towards a rehabilitative approach to justice, update the criminal code, and align with European Union standards. Proponent of the law, the Ministry of Justice led by Boris Susko of Smer published the brochure 'Overview of Violations of the Principles of the Rule of Law in the Years 2020–2023.'[5]

The amendment was finally approved by the National Council on 8 February 2024. The final proposal also included a reduction of the statute of limitations in rape cases from 20 to 10 years, which again caused widespread criticism from the parliamentary opposition, President Zuzana Čaputová and non-governmental organizations. The government defended the reduction of the limitation period by motivating victims to report rape earlier, possibly allowing a return to the 20-year limitation period in the next amendment after the approval of the law.[6]

President Zuzana Čaputová signed the law on 16 February, verbally clearly expressing her opposition to its content..The President argued that by signing the law instead of vetoing it, she wants to create enough time for the Constitutional Court to decide on her submission challenging the constitutionality of the law. As of February 2024, the Constitutional Court is expected to make its decision following the publication of the law in the collection of laws by the Ministry of Justice.[7]

Media edit

Robert Fico and his political associates have stopped responding to and inviting to their press conferences reporters from some major news outlets that criticise the government, such as Denník N, Aktuality.sk and SME, along with broadcaster TV Markíza, calling them "enemy media",[8] while giving preferential treatment to media more favourable to him.[9] Pavol Szalai, the head of the EU and Balkans desk of Reporters Without Borders, stated that Fico was subjecting Slovakia's democracy to a "crash test".[10]

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) stated: “RSF condemns the ruling parties’ verbal attacks, their attempts to restrict access to information and their questioning of the independence of the public broadcaster RTVS.”[8]

The government has proposed a drastic cut in the financing of the RTVS, as well as a plan to split it into separate radio and television companies, attracting criticism from Reporters Without Borders and other organisations.[11][12]

RSF, International Press Institute, European Federation of Journalists, Free Press Unlimited and European Centre for Press and Media Freedom have voiced their concerns in an open letter to the President and the National Council. In the letter they have stated that these government actions can weaken the independence of this media and endanger the freedom of the press in Slovakia.[13][11][12]

In April 2024, the Slovak government approved the Television and Radio Act proposed by prime minister Robert Fico and minister of culture Martina Šimkovičová over alleged partiality of the broadcaster. If the bill is supported by the Parliament of Slovakia, Radio and Television of Slovakia RTVS will be closed by the following June and replaced by a new broadcaster, named STVR.[14][15][16][17]

The new broadcaster STVR will be required by law to broadcast the Slovak national anthem once a day.[18][19]

Foreign policy edit

Robert Fico is widely seen as pro-Russian,[20][21][22] and his government has stopped militarily supporting Ukraine, saying he "will not send one bullet" to Ukraine.[23][24][25] Fico has been opposing sanctions against Russia, with his standpoint on Ukraine being compared to that of Viktor Orbán.[24] In an RTVS interview, Fico questioned Ukraine's sovereignty and independence, claiming that Ukraine is just a US puppet, sparking outrage in both Slovakia and Ukraine. He has also stated that Slovakia will veto Ukraine's NATO membership, and has pushed for a peace deal, even if Ukraine suffers territorial losses. His words regarding Ukraine have been described as "heartless", "vulgar" and "disgraceful".[26][27]

Notes edit

  1. ^ Independent, ran on the party ticket of and nominated by SNS.
  2. ^ Independent nominated by SMER-SD.
  3. ^ Independent, ran on the party ticket of and nominated by SNS.
  4. ^ a b c Including several independents elected on the party's list.

References edit

  1. ^ "Slovakia's Fico appointed prime minister for fourth time". Reuters. 25 October 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  2. ^ "Slovakia swears in a new Cabinet led by a populist ex-premier who opposes support for Ukraine". AP News. 25 October 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Slovakia's new government led by populist Robert Fico wins a mandatory confidence vote". Independent. 21 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  4. ^ Henley, Jon (14 February 2024). "EU told Slovakia that its reforms risked 'irreparable damage' to rule of law". The Guardian.
  5. ^ "Vl谩da zverejnila 140-stranov煤 bro啪煤ru, ako mali by钮 poru拧ovan茅 木udsk茅 pr谩va v rokoch 2020/23. Pozrite si cel媒 materi谩l". February 2024.
  6. ^ "Novela Trestného zákona je schválená. Prezidentka sa pokúsi zabrániť jej účinnosti (Online)". 8 February 2024.
  7. ^ "Prezidentka podpísala Trestný zákon, hoci ho kritizuje. Vytvára čas pre Ústavný súd".
  8. ^ a b Bayer, Lili (2023-11-15). "Slovakian prime minister sparks alarm with threat to restrict media". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  9. ^ Barborák, Jaroslav (23 November 2023). "Fico s Dankom škodia občanom selektívnym prístupom k médiám, tvrdí Pavol Szalai z Reportérov bez hraníc (podcast)". Aktuality.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  10. ^ Hovet, Jason (20 November 2023). "Slovakia's new PM Fico stops talking to some media amid rift". Reuters.
  11. ^ a b a.s, Petit Press. "Reportéri bez hraníc vyzývajú prezidentku a parlament, aby odmietli plány vlády pre RTVS". svet.sme.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  12. ^ a b Teraz.sk (2023-12-13). "Reportéri bez hraníc apelujú na prezidentku a parlament". TERAZ.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  13. ^ "Slovakia: RSF and its partners urge parliament and president to halt attempts to undermine the public broadcaster's independence | RSF". rsf.org. 2023-12-13. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  14. ^ [1]
  15. ^ [2]
  16. ^ [3]
  17. ^ [4]
  18. ^ [5]
  19. ^ [6]
  20. ^ Henley, Jon; correspondent, Jon Henley Europe (2023-10-01). "Robert Fico doubles down on pro-Russia stance after Slovakia election win". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  21. ^ Lopatka, Jan (1 October 2023). "Robert Fico, pro-Russian Slovak political heavyweight wins another election". Reuters.
  22. ^ Editorial (2023-10-03). "The Guardian view on Slovakia's election: an ominous signal from central Europe". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  23. ^ "Slovakia's Fico announces halt of military aid to Ukraine". POLITICO. 2023-10-26. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  24. ^ a b Hovet, Jason (26 October 2023). "Slovakia's Fico will not support more military aid to Ukraine at EU summit -Slovak media". Reuters.
  25. ^ Gosling, Tim. "Nationalist, populist, far-right parties eye rising support across Europe". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
  26. ^ "Slovak PM claims Ukraine is not a sovereign country". Euractiv. 21 January 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  27. ^ a.s, Petit Press (2024-01-23). "Fico questions aid for Ukraine and its sovereignty ahead of Uzhhorod meeting". spectator.sme.sk. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
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