Key facts
- A junior party in Slovakia's coalition voted with the opposition to dismiss Environment Minister Tomas Taraba.
- The vote to dismiss Taraba won 77 votes in the 150-seat parliament.
- Prime Minister Robert Fico may consider an early election in January.
- Fico's government has maintained warm relations with Russia, diverging from EU and NATO allies.
- Opinion polls suggest ruling parties could lose power in an election.
A junior party within Slovakia's leftist-nationalist coalition has voted alongside the parliamentary opposition to dismiss Environment Minister Tomas Taraba, a move that could lead to the collapse of Prime Minister Robert Fico's government and trigger an early election. The vote on Tuesday saw 77 votes in favor of removing Taraba, who had reportedly fallen out with the leadership of his own party, the far-right Slovak National Party (SNS).
Fico's three-party government relies on several independent lawmakers to maintain its slim majority of 78 seats in the 150-strong parliament. The Prime Minister stated he would convene his Smer-Slovak Social Democracy (Smer-SSD) party's leadership on Wednesday to discuss the path forward. He has raised the possibility of an early election in January, though such a move would require a supermajority in parliament. Alternatively, Fico may attempt to reshuffle the coalition with his current partners.
A government collapse would not automatically result in an election, as the Slovak constitution allows for the formation of another cabinet. Under Fico's leadership, Slovakia has maintained warmer relations with Russia compared to its European Union and NATO allies, continuing to import Russian oil and gas. Opinion polls suggest that the ruling parties could face electoral defeat if an election were held.