Slovak cabinet proposes referendum mechanism for early elections

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico’s cabinet has approved a draft constitutional amendment that would allow citizens to shorten parliamentary terms and trigger early elections via a public referendum. The proposed mechanism would apply only to future legislative periods, though the ruling coalition currently lacks the three-fifths parliamentary majority required to pass constitutional changes.

The legislative effort comes amid broader political friction. Opposition leader Igor Matovič is conducting a nationwide campaign tour featuring public debates aimed at challenging the administration. Concurrently, the governing coalition faces scrutiny over regional election pacts with the far-right Republika movement, whose youth wing recently drew criticism for provocative membership forms. Meanwhile, negotiations over buying out Czech utility ČEZ's stake in the Jaslovské Bohunice nuclear plant remain unresolved.

Sources: Denník N, Hospodářské noviny, iROZHLAS, Respect, Seznam Zprávy