Slovakia fails to strip PM Fico of his lifetime pension
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (photo: Getty Images)
A nationwide referendum in Slovakia on abolishing special lifetime benefits for Prime Minister Robert Fico has officially been declared invalid. Voter turnout fell well below the required threshold, dealing a blow to an opposition-backed initiative, TVP reports.
The vote was held on Saturday, with the main question asking whether Prime Minister Robert Fico should be stripped of his entitlement to a lifetime pension. However, the outcome proved disappointing for the opposition, which had organized the referendum.
Under Slovak law, a referendum is valid only if more than 50% of eligible voters participate. This time, turnout was exceptionally low, with only about 16% of eligible voters casting ballots.
It was one of the lowest turnout rates in the country's history. Voters largely ignored calls from opposition parties to participate. Fico's ruling coalition openly dismissed the referendum as a "political stunt," while supporters of his Direction—Slovak Social Democracy (SMER) party organized a broad boycott.
What's wrong with premier's pension law
The dispute centers on legislation passed in 2024, shortly after the assassination attempt on Robert Fico. Under the law, former prime ministers and parliamentary speakers are granted special status.
The main provisions include:
- Serving at least two terms in office
- Receiving a lifetime income after leaving office
- Payments equal to the salary of a sitting member of parliament.
The opposition Democrats party sought public backing to repeal these provisions, arguing that the privileges are unfair.
Despite the referendum's failure due to low turnout, those who did vote overwhelmingly supported the proposal. Nearly 95% voted to strip Fico of the pension benefit. However, the result carries no legal force.
Anti-corruption reforms fail to gain traction
The referendum was not limited to the issue of the prime minister's benefits. Voters were also asked whether to restore key institutions responsible for fighting serious crime: the Special Prosecutor's Office and the National Crime Agency (NAKA).
These bodies had investigated major cases involving:
- High-level government corruption
- Organized crime
- Extremism.
Fico government abolished both institutions in early 2024, a move that sparked large-scale protests across Slovakia. In the referendum, 94% of participants supported the restoration of anti-corruption bodies. But because turnout was too low, that proposal also failed.
As a result, Robert Fico retained both his lifetime pension benefits and control over law enforcement institutions.
Why Slovak referendums rarely succeed
Slovakia has a long history of failed referendums. In the country's 33 years of independence, 10 nationwide referendums have been held, but only one has met the required turnout threshold.
That occurred in 2003, when Slovaks voted on joining the European Union. Every other attempt to decide major national issues through a referendum has failed due to insufficient voter turnout.
Other recent developments involving Fico
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has said he plans to block further financial and military aid to Ukraine at the upcoming NATO summit. He has argued that continued support for Kyiv could ultimately draw Slovakia into a broader conflict.
Fico has also described what he called the only way to end the war in Ukraine, urging the European Union to support only peaceful initiatives and to step up diplomatic efforts.
