Slovakia's Fico agrees deal with partners for control of government ministries to bolster coalition

Slovakia's Fico boosts power through deal with coalition partners

The Slovak prime minister's parliamentary majority came under threat when several lawmakers defected from their posts.

Fico reinforced from government reshuffle, but coalition crisis persists

The Slovak government has been in crisis since autumn, witnessing defections from coalition partners.

Slovakia's Fico agrees deal with partners for control of government ministries to bolster coalition

Slovakia's ruling coalition partners have agreed a deal with populist Prime Minister Robert Fico to give up one ministry each as part of a government reshuffle.

Slovakia’s Fico Seeks to Bolster Coalition With Ministry Control

Slovakia’s premier said his ruling party was taking control of two ministries to help stabilize the ruling coalition, potentially warding off the threat of a snap election.

Slovakia managed to resolve a protracted coalition crisis on Wednesday. The leaders of the government parties Směr, Hlas and the Slovak National Party (SNS) agreed to change the coalition agreement and redistribute ministries. The winner of the agreement is Fico's Směr party, which gained two more ministries. The agreement averted the threat of early parliamentary elections in Slovakia.

The government parties signed an amendment to the coalition agreement, Smer took two ministries, but the conflict is not over yet. Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer) still has to win over seven MPs who were in sharp personal disputes with other coalition representatives and, except for Ján Ferenčák from Hlas, are no longer members of the government parties. Andrej Danko lost the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, […]