Slovak Defence Minister Robert Kaliňák Reaffirms Loyalty to Prime Minister Fico and Rules Out Coalition Shifts

In a televised discussion on Politika 24 (Joj 24), Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Robert Kaliňák of Smer‑SD said he entered politics with Robert Fico and will leave with him, stating there is no reason to debate a successor to Fico. He positioned himself as part of the party’s older generation tasked with overseeing younger talent.

Kaliňák dismissed speculation about a merger with the Hlas party, describing any potential reunion as a hypothetical question and noting that Hlas now pursues an independent policy. He also said that whether the right‑wing party Republika might receive a security ministry portfolio will be decided after the elections, calling it a legitimate post‑election issue. The minister referenced ongoing controversy over the reconstruction of the defence ministry building known as “Kukurica” and noted criticism from Finance Minister Veronika Remišová, who has filed a complaint with the Supreme Audit Office.

Overall, Kaliňák portrayed Smer as a strong social‑democratic force willing to cooperate on programmatic grounds while emphasizing continuity with Fico’s leadership.