The Slovak parliament has approved the government of Prime Minister Robert Fico, supporting a political program that promises to end state military aid to Ukraine, reduce the budget deficit and introduce a new bank tax. This was reported by Reuters.


Fico won the election in September by focusing on criticism from the media, Western partners, and the logic of liberal politics. On October 25, President Zuzana Chaputova appointed him prime minister for the fourth time.


Fico's ruling coalition unites his left-wing, socially conservative SMER-SSD party with a small left-wing party and a small nationalist party.


After adopting its political program last week, the coalition won parliamentary support on November 21. The program includes a special tax on bank profits and measures to reduce mortgage interest rates. It also includes special levies on excess profits in other sectors. 


Aimed at reducing the public sector deficit to 0.5% of GDP in 2024, the program seeks to overcome the largest deficit in the euro area, estimated at almost 7% of GDP this year.


In addition, as part of the program, Fico promised in his election campaign to stop official military aid to Ukraine, seeking to end hostilities and recognize Ukraine's international borders.


He also reaffirmed his opposition to the abolition of the national veto right of the EU member states.


The opposition protested against the program, pointing to Fico's attacks on independent media and the dismissal of high-ranking police officers investigating suspected bribery among members of the new ruling coalition.