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Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico’s political strategy, centred on maintaining cordial relations with Moscow and securing affordable Russian gas imports, has encountered significant obstacles. The populist leader now confronts mounting opposition as his pro-Kremlin stance increasingly alienates both domestic constituents and European allies.
Mass demonstrations erupted across Slovakia this weekend, with approximately 100,000 citizens flooding the streets of Bratislava and other major cities. Protesters brandished signs declaring “We don’t want dictatorship,” expressing their profound disapproval of Fico’s Moscow-friendly policies and his resistance to align with EU efforts to reduce dependency on Russian energy sources.
The situation intensified when Ukraine’s transit contract with Russian state giant Gazprom expired on 1 January, effectively terminating one of the last remaining pipelines supplying Russian gas to Europe. The closure represents a substantial financial blow to Slovakia, resulting in the loss of £500 million in annual transit revenues.
Fico’s December visit to Moscow, seeking assistance from Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been labelled as treasonous by opposition parties. The opposition is now mobilising to initiate a no-confidence vote against his coalition government. Opposition leader Michal Šimečka’s subsequent diplomatic mission to Kyiv highlighted the growing political divide within Slovak leadership.
The Prime Minister’s response to the demonstrations has raised additional concerns. His claims of foreign interference and warnings about potential crisis situations echo Cold War rhetoric, prompting President Peter Pellegrini to distance himself from such alarmist statements. Fico’s suggestion that both the EU and NATO could follow the Warsaw Pact into obsolescence has particularly alarmed pro-European politicians.
While Slovakia maintains adequate gas reserves for the current winter period, with storage facilities at 65.5 per cent capacity, the search for alternative supply routes has become increasingly urgent. The country’s heavy reliance on gas heating, second only to the Netherlands within the EU, underscores the critical nature of securing new energy partnerships.
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