Slovakia's Fico faces budgetary, energy, and governance hurdles

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico faces multiple political, economic, and security challenges as his administration resumes legislative work following a prolonged summer recess.

On public finances, Fico dismissed legal requirements under Slovakia's debt brake to present a balanced budget, calling such a scenario "science fiction" that would lead to the collapse of the social state. Meanwhile, the government proposed a constitutional amendment allowing citizens to trigger early elections via referendum in future terms, though the ruling coalition lacks the votes required to pass it.

In energy policy, plans for a fully state-owned nuclear power plant face obstacles due to disagreements over purchasing Czech utility ČEZ's stake in the project. Additionally, the opposition has filed a criminal complaint and demanded the resignation of Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok over Russian components found in new traffic monitoring cameras, concerns Fico downplayed.

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