Slovaks to vote on lifelong payments for leaders in referendum
Slovaks will cast the ballot on Saturday in a referendum to decide whether to cancel lifelong payments for populist Prime Minister Robert Fico and other leaders after their terms in office expire, reports BritPanorama.
The referendum will also address the potential reopening of the special prosecutor’s office and the National Criminal Agency, both of which are instrumental in tackling major crime and corruption.
This vote follows a petition organized by the Democrats, a non-parliamentary pro-Western opposition party, which garnered more than 350,000 signatures from citizens in the nation of 5.4 million, meeting the legal threshold for a referendum.
Historically, only one referendum in Slovakia’s past—the successful 2003 vote on European Union membership—has achieved its goal, while previous attempts have failed due to low voter turnout.
Current polls indicate that Saturday’s turnout is unlikely to meet the required 50% threshold.
Under existing regulations, Slovak prime ministers and parliament speakers who have served at least two terms are entitled to receive a lifelong payment equivalent to lawmakers’ salaries in Parliament. This policy was instituted following a 2024 assassination attempt on Fico, who sustained serious injuries from gunfire after a governmental meeting, a shocking event that resonated throughout Europe. Before 2024, such benefits were exclusive to former presidents.
Earlier in 2024, Fico’s coalition government pushed through legislation to abolish the special prosecutors’ office, which dealt with serious crimes including corruption and organized crime, and disbanded the police unit dedicated to these issues. This legislative move faced intense criticism both domestically and internationally, sparking widespread protests across Slovakia.
Fico has consistently been a polarizing figure since his return to power in 2023, with his pro-Russian policies prompting significant opposition. Fico announced that he would abstain from voting in the upcoming referendum.
