Slovakia Politics Explained, Who Holds Power in 2026

Slovakia's government is a coalition led by Prime Minister Robert Fico's Smer-SD (Direction, Social Democracy) party, which secured 42 seats in the 2023 election. To maintain control, the coalition formed an alliance with Hlas-SD (Voice, Social Democracy) and the nationalist Slovak National Party (SNS), gaining a majority of 79 seats in the National Council.

President Peter Pellegrini, an ex-Hlas-SD leader, appoints and dismisses ministers based on the prime minister's recommendations. Recently, the coalition faced a crisis when SNS proposed state secretary Filip Kuffa to replace the dismissed environment minister, Tomáš Taraba. Pellegrini rejected Kuffa due to a criminal investigation into his alleged procurement manipulation, causing tension within the coalition.

The opposition, primarily led by the liberal Progressive Slovakia party, has criticized the government's handling of the Kuffa case, raising concerns about potential double standards. Meanwhile, Fico has called for a cautious approach to NATO's Article 5 clause, emphasizing that Slovakia should not be drawn into a military conflict.

In an effort to maintain diplomatic ties, Slovak Foreign Minister Zsolt Ivan Blanár visited Moscow for the 22nd session of the intergovernmental commission on economic and scientific cooperation, despite the ongoing war with Russia. The agenda focused on energy supplies, nuclear fuel, culture, and restrictions on Russian athletes.

However, opposition parties criticized the trip, arguing that it undermines Slovakia's stance on the war.