New coalition required
Slovak government overthrown by vote of no confidence
12/15/2022 9:53 p.m
Prime Minister Heger and his conservative-populist government were distrusted by the Slovakian parliament. The vote was initiated by a former coalition partner. A tricky situation for the EU country, because new elections are currently prohibited by the constitution.
In Slovakia, the conservative-populist government of Prime Minister Eduard Heger was overthrown by a vote of no confidence. In the parliament of the capital Bratislava, 78 out of 150 deputies voted in favor of a motion of no confidence from the liberal party Freedom and Solidarity (SaS). Until the beginning of September, the SaS itself was still part of the governing coalition. Slovakia – until the fall of the wall together with today’s Czech Republic part of Czechoslovakia – has been a member of the EU and NATO since 2004.
Whoever governs in Bratislava now depends primarily on President Zuzana Caputova. Until a new coalition is formed, it can provisionally instruct the fallen government to continue its work. But Caputova can also set up a government of experts – or hire another politician to form a government. Most recently, Heger was only in office as head of a minority government of three parties. The opposition accused him of doing too little to counteract the energy crisis and inflation, increasing poverty and the rising number of refugees.
The Liberals are united with their former partners in supporting Ukraine against Russia’s war of aggression. In other parts of the opposition, however, the prevailing view is that Slovakia should behave more neutrally.
Government faces massive defeat in new elections
The variant that is possible in other countries, calling for new elections now, is currently prohibited by the constitution. The constitutional court confirmed this last year – and at the same time suggested changing the regulation. A referendum on this, which has now been set for January 21, has been obstructed for a long time by the previous governing parties. The fronts are hardened. Two social democratic opposition parties are leading in the polls. The previous prime minister, Heger, and other members of the previous government, refer to both parties as “mafia” with reference to earlier corruption scandals. They refuse to work together.
In new elections, the previous government camp is threatened with a dramatic defeat. According to surveys, all three parties together only came to around 15 percent. Heger had tried to avert a fall until the last minute. The vote, which was actually planned for Tuesday, had been postponed several times.