Slovak government proposes constitutional change on early elections amid rising criticism

Slovakia's cabinet, led by Prime Minister Robert Fico, has approved a constitutional amendment allowing citizens to initiate referendums to trigger early parliamentary elections, though the measure would only take effect in future electoral terms. The ruling coalition currently lacks the parliamentary majority required to pass the proposal.

The initiative comes amid mounting political and fiscal scrutiny following a six-week government recess. Fico rejected statutory debt brake rules requiring a balanced budget, claiming such measures would cause the breakdown of the social state. Meanwhile, opposition parties filed criminal complaints after Russian hardware was discovered in traffic monitoring cameras, calling for the interior minister's resignation. Fico dismissed the security risks. Additionally, commentators warned of long-term debt risks from Chinese-funded infrastructure deals alongside ongoing domestic project delays.

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