Bratislava – The continuation of consolidation in Slovakia in the coming years will take a different form than in 2024 and 2025. This was announced on Sunday by the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico (Smer-SD), who also commented on the exclusion of his party Smer-SD from the Party of European Socialists (PES), which occurred on Friday (October 17), TASR reports.
The Prime Minister, in a video he published on social media on Sunday, commented on the consolidation that Slovakia is expected to face in the coming years, reminding that the vote on the state budget for next year should take place on Tuesday (October 21) and also expressed his views on the exclusion of Smer-SD from the Party of European Socialists (PES).
Robert Fico criticized PES in this context, stating that it has completely abandoned traditional leftist values. He mentioned that the main reason for the exclusion of Smer-SD was the amendment to the Constitution of Slovakia. He is also shocked that he was criticized for participating in the celebrations of victories over fascism in Moscow and Beijing.
“If the reason for the termination of Smer-SD’s membership in the Party of European Socialists is my participation in the celebrations of victory over fascism and the constitutional enshrinement of man and woman, then I am proud of this exclusion,” Fico stated on Friday, shortly after the announcement from the congress of the Party of European Socialists in Amsterdam.
The delegates of the congress unanimously, with no votes against and no abstentions, decided on the definitive exclusion of the Slovak political party led by Prime Minister Robert Fico from their ranks. The General Secretary of PES James Filibeck stated before the vote that “the actions of Smer-SD in recent years have been serious and strongly contrary to the values and principles of our family”.
The reason for the exclusion, according to Fico, was also his differing opinion on the war in Ukraine, and he confirmed that the members of his party in the European Parliament, who are in the Non-Attached group, are considering several options. “As for our activities in the European Parliament, we have offers from other groups for inclusion, but we must think carefully about it so that our priorities related to the policy of Slovak social democracy do not conflict with the political programs of these groups,” Fico added. (October 19)
“The actions of Smer-SD in recent years have been serious and strongly contrary to the values and principles of the Party of European Socialists.” Giacomo Filibeck
