The Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is known for specified maneuvers: he blocks EU decisions that must be adopted unanimously, and promises his supporters that he will "never" support them. However, at the last minute, he steps down and agrees. You frequently don't know what he gets in return. In his country, Orban sells his "fight with Brussels bureaucrats" as a victory.
Now the same maneuver was first applied by a close friend of Orban, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. He is officially a social Democrat, but in the practice of a right-wing populist. For many weeks, he reiterated that he would not agree to the 18th package of sanctions against Russia, even if this led to a major crisis in the EU, and kept the Union in check.
According to Fica, sanctions would harm the economy of Slovakia, and especially its energy supply, as well as the EU itself. The Slovak Prime Minister justified this blockade citing sovereignty and national pride.
The position changed late in the evening on Thursday (17 July 2025), a fewer hours before the planned decision on the package. Fico announced in a movie published on social media that the European Commission's sanction plan towards Russia is "nonsensical", but voting against it would be "contraproductive". He explained what concessions Slovakia would receive in return, and stated, "Who lives with wolves, the 1 with wolves howls."
"Teatr for voters"
In the EU, Fico's unexpected return was received with large relief. Some, like German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, even expressed their knowing of the economical problems of Slovakia. However, in Slovakia itself, both opposition politicians and many commentators powerfully criticise Fica's move. The general speech is that he insulted European partners, did a favour to Vladimir Putin, achieved nothing for Slovakia and isolated the country.
Michal Szimecki, head of the largest Slovak opposition organization Progressive Slovakia (PS), called Fica on Facebook "a dyletant, lost, frustrated and incapable to hold office and defend the interests of Slovakia". The commentator of the paper "Sme" acknowledged the Prime Minister's decision "theatre for local voters and distraction from another problems".
Exception from RePowerEU
What was the game about, and what did Fico achieve? The 18th package of EU sanctions against Russia is primarily intended to halt Russian oil sales in the EU, cut off Russian arms manufacture from crucial imports and ban transactions with Russian banks that have not yet been on the sanction list. Fico and his coalition government mostly agreed to this. However, the dissension was based on the actions provided for in the plan presented by Brussels long ago called RePowerEU, which includes the independency of associate States from Russian gas in 2028.
Slovakia demanded an exception for itself due to the fact that it has a gas supply agreement with Russian Gazprom, which is valid until 2034. So far, she's totally addicted to Russian gas. However, even before the final approval of the 18th package of sanctions, the EU provided support to Slovakia for the supply of blue fuel. For example, this country can usage part of EU financial assistance for energy price subsidies. In addition, Brussels will assist Slovakia in possible legal disputes with Gazprom. Why, then, did Bratislava block the decision?
Budget deficit and structural crisis
Firstly, Slovakia faces serious financial problems and a deep structural crisis of the economy. The coalition government of social democrats and right-wing nationalists, having held power since the end of 2023, has so far failed to resolve any of these problems. Above all, he hesitates to heal public finances.
Last year the budget deficit was 5.3 percent of GDP – 3 percent is allowed in the euro area. The Ficy government has already introduced financial consolidation measures. For example, he raised any taxes and social safety contributions, liquidated any Christmas days. On the another hand, he gave voters costly gifts specified as energy price subsidies and 13th retirement. The government is presently under pressure, among another things, due to a controversial financial transaction tax.
Slovakia's export-oriented economy faces serious difficulties due to the automotive crisis. Volkswagen, Kia, Jaguar and Peugeot have their plants there, and production of passenger cars is by far the most crucial branch of the economy. This in turn plunges into crisis due to changes in the automotive market, Chinese competition, decline in sales in the US and Donald Trump's customs policy. The Ficy Government has not so far presented a long-term plan for fundamental economical reforms.
Corruption charges
Ficy and his government besides have old and fresh corruption scandals. After the assassination of investigative writer Jan Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kusznirova in February 2018. Fico had to resign. Following this event, it came to light how closely Slovak politics and organised crime are linked.
Since Ficya's return to power in late 2023, 1 of his precedence projects is to end the fight against corruption and destruct opponents. – Fico is obsessed with the desire for revenge – says Peter Bardy, editor-in-chief of the portal "Currentity", author of the bestselling book on Robert Fica. Recently, "Updates" revealed a scandal over a luxury villa on the Croatian Adriatic coast, which, through a complex ownership structure, most likely belongs to the PM's estate.
"Tama Against Progress"
The Prime Minister sees himself as surrounded by enemies and sacrifice. And since he miraculously survived the bombing in May 2024, this has indeed been marked by obsession. The opposition, independent media, liberalism, "LGBTQ idologists", the EU – a 60-year-old politician believes they all conspired against him. He repeatedly defended Russian despot Vladimir Putin, and on 8 May 2025 as the sole head of the EU government went to Moscow to celebrate the day of victory. After his visit to Uzbekistan in June 2025, he praised the state model there as a political model and discussed the redevelopment of European democracy, specified as the simplification of parliamentary parties. In autumn, Fico wants to introduce changes to the constitution to make a "defeat against progressiveism". Among another things, there is simply a evidence about the existence of only 2 genders – male and female.
This policy besides fits in with his latest EU sanctioning manoeuvre against Russia. That's what Slovak-Hungarian author and publicist Laszlo Barak thinks. "This is how Fica's reality is constructed: utilizing slogans, half-truths and inexpensive lies," he writes in a comment for the portal "Parameter". "This is his policy: manipulation, rusophilia and cynicism," he adds.
