Prime Minister Robert Fico is to face a vote of no confidence on Friday. Subsequently, Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák will also face a no-confidence vote. Both votes were initiated by the opposition Freedom and Solidarity and Ordinary People parties. They accuse Kaliňák of having business links with alleged tax fraudster Ladislav Bašternák and also of intervening in the investigation of his case. The opposition also criticised the fact, that Prime Minister Fico rents a luxurious flat from Bašternák in the Bonaparte apartment complex for a very favourable price, which they call a bribe. "Robert Fico not only supports criminal practices of government members by his actions but also consciously supports an environment of corruption and gives the green light for such actions at lower levels of public administration," claims the opposition.
The Prime Minister accused the opposition of creating a negative image of Slovakia during its presidency of the EU Council. He also pointed to measures against corruption and tax fraud introduced by the Interior Minister.
The opposition initiated both no-confidence votes before the summer. However, the coalition postponed them for September. Thus, the parliament is returning to this topic after more than two months, during which the opposition MPs organised weekly protests in front of the Bonaparte apartment complex.
