Andrej Danko warns of coalition strain and pushes €20 bn highway loan in Slovakia

Nationalist party leader Andrej Danko said he feels increasingly uncomfortable in the coalition government led by Prime Minister Robert Fico, accusing the premier of “liquidating” coalition partners. In a televised discussion he announced Adam Lučanský as the SNS candidate for the presidency of the Žilinský Region and confirmed the party will also field a candidate in Prešov. Danko reiterated that the SaS party will run independently in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

He criticised the prospect of a balanced state budget as unrealistic and proposed a national investment programme that could borrow up to €20 billion to complete unfinished highways, arguing that debt is acceptable if spent on infrastructure. Danko warned that the 2027 budget talks will become a “brother‑killing” fight among coalition members. SaS leader Branislav Gröhling responded with proposals on public‑sector spending, pension reforms and limits on officials’ cars, while Danko highlighted the party’s stance against “family‑type” patronage and called for doubling pensions for seniors over 90.

The remarks come as Slovakia prepares for regional and parliamentary elections, with coalition partners openly debating fiscal policy, debt utilisation and candidate selections.