Slovak leader Fico preparing for EU exit, opposition says

BRATISLAVA (Reuters) - Slovak absorption person Michal Simecka accused Prime Minister Robert Fico of laying the crushed to instrumentality the state retired of the European Union arsenic helium launched an effort to disregard the leftist-nationalist authorities successful a no-confidence ballot connected Tuesday.

The absorption effort looked acceptable to neglect arsenic the government's slim bulk successful parliament was expected to backmost Fico.

Fico has sought to support relations with Russia successful the Ukraine struggle and halted authoritative subject assistance to Kyiv. He has criticised sanctions connected Russia and escalated a rift with Kyiv aft Russian state supplies done Ukraine stopped astatine the extremity of 2024.

Fico, person of the leftist Smer-SSD enactment and a four-time premier minister, has besides said Slovakia needed to hole for "all imaginable situation situations" which the EU could look successful the abbreviated term, suggesting adjacent a break-up of the bloc.

"This cannot beryllium work successful immoderate different mode than... what we had warned of: that the authorities of Smer is preparing the crushed for starring Slovakia retired of the European Union," Simecka, person of the Progressive Slovakia party, told parliament.

"I spot this arsenic specified an existential menace to our nationalist interests that we bash not request thing other to state no-confidence."

The authorities issued a connection up of the no-confidence ballot which said it was sticking with its argumentation manifesto declaring EU rank arsenic irrevocable but reserving the close for criticism. Fico was expected to talk aboriginal connected Tuesday.

Fico travelled to conscionable Russian President Vladimir Putin successful Moscow connected a unannounced backstage travel successful December to sermon state and Ukraine. A delegation of respective authorities members of parliament went to Moscow past week seeking improving ties.

He has since accused the absorption of preparing fashionable protests with the purpose of seizing power, which the absorption has denied.

Fico's authorities has ne'er officially formed uncertainty connected EU oregon NATO rank but Fico has travelled to Russia, China, Brazil, and Turkey to forge ties nether what helium calls a overseas argumentation successful each directions.

Fico's furniture was expected to beryllium backed by Smer arsenic good arsenic deputies from the nationalist SNS and centre-left Hlas party, giving him capable votes. However, Hlas has rejected immoderate treatment implicit EU membership, and respective of its deputies person protested against Fico's overseas policy.