Democracy Digest: Slovakia’s Government Toppled, Snap Elections a Possibility
Balkan InsightDec 16, 2022
On Friday, Slovak Pres. Zuzana Čaputová called for early elections after dismissing the government following the loss of a no-confidence vote. Čaputová requested that PM Eduard Heger and his cabinet remain in a caretaker role while a new government is formed.
On Thursday, the Parliament dealt the government a blow with a no-confidence vote, setting the framework for an early election, which Čaputová — who set an end-of-January deadline to amend the Constitution to enable an early election — said is expected in mid-2023.
It's no wonder that the current government has failed: From allegations of corruption and its poor COVID response to its support of Ukraine at the expense of Slovakia's own economy, the majority of Slovakians have had enough. The no-confidence vote led by the opposition shows the will of the people and is finally demanding much-needed reform.
PM Heger's leadership and alliance with the EU have been vital to supporting Ukraine from Russia's aggression. This no-confidence vote is a tumultuous upheaval that risks not only upending this fragile unity but also plunging the nation into even further political catastrophe.