Robert Fico says Slovakia’s municipal elections will favor independents and warns of coalition challenges

Prime Minister Robert Fico described the current coalition as “complicated” and emphasized that Slovakia needs a change to its political system. He added that the upcoming autumn municipal elections are expected to be dominated by independent candidates, arguing that the results will not influence how the “cards are dealt” in next year’s parliamentary elections.

Fico highlighted the difficulty faced by local officials compared with national legislators and called for reforms to address issues faced by small municipalities, including more efficient and shared local services. He also warned that a victory for Transport Minister Jozef Ráž in the Bratislava mayoral race would “overshadow all other election results,” underscoring the strategic importance of the municipal contests for his party.

Overall, Fico’s comments signal a focus on local election dynamics, coalition stability, and potential reforms ahead of future national polls.