Premier Fico Ready to Resign on Thursday, Has Three Conditions

Bratislava, March 14 (TASR) – Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) is ready to step down from his post, leaders of coalition parties announced at the Government Office on Wednesday.

Fico is ready to resign as early as on Thursday (March 15), after talking to President Andrej Kiska, but has three conditions. The head of state needs to respect that a new prime minister will be nominated by Smer-SD, that the president will respect the coalition agreement of the three parties, and the results of the parliamentary elections held in 2016, according to which the current coalition has an effective majority.

Robert Fico believes that if a snap election was held in Slovakia in the current situation, it would be accompanied by chaos and instability. “It’s important that the incumbent Government coalition continues to carry out its mandate given by voters. Slovakia is in good shape, also owing to the current Government coalition. So it’s our duty to continue to fulfil the will of people and not to give the country to Opposition amateurs,” said Fico, adding that he personally is willing to do his best.

Slovak National Party (SNS) chair Andrej Danko praised Fico’s step. “I don’t deny we’re full of emotions. But we feel the more a great deal of responsibility,” he stated, pointing to a possible future Government composed of the current Opposition.

Most-Hid leader Bela Bugar also praised Fico’s decision. “A new government, a new responsibility and continuation of what we started two years ago,” he said.

According to him, this decision can also calm the situation down. “But how can we expect responsibility from the Opposition which is claiming that the Government has already fallen and nothing needs to be done in Parliament? Responsible politicians do things differently,” he added.