Slovak coalition to combine ambassador nominations with state budget vote

Minister of Interior and Hlas‑SD chair Matúš Šutaj Eštok said the coalition plans to agree on the re‑appointment of National Bank governor Peter Kažimír, the appointment of new constitutional‑court judges and the nominations of ambassadors to Cyprus and Italy in a single package before the next year’s state budget is approved. He presented the arrangement as a “general agreement” within the governing coalition.

Opposition leader Milan Majerský criticised the approach, arguing that an ambassador represents the whole country and warning that the package could be used to push through a referendum scheduled for 4 July. The referendum will decide whether Prime Minister Robert Fico should receive a lifetime pension and whether the Special Prosecutor’s Office and the National Criminal Agency should be reinstated, a move the opposition called a promotion of a non‑parliamentary party.

The discussion highlights tensions within the Slovak coalition over personnel decisions and upcoming constitutional changes ahead of the budget debate.