Following in tradition, Slovak Presidents normally start their term by visiting neighbouring countries gathered in the so called V4 group. Unlike her predecessors, Zuzana Čaputová did not avoid offering slight criticisms of the political situation in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland respectively.
In Prague, she expressed her understanding for the over 100 thousand peaceful people packed in Wenceslav Square as she understood the people packed similarly in squares in Bratislava. Political analysts interpreted her speech as support for the protests against Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and Justice Minister Marie Benešová. The Slovak President also included critical lines during her first speech in Hungary. When speaking about mutual co-operation she said that "it should be about the values of enforcing democracy, legally consistent states and European integration." Analysts pointed out the diplomatic but straight criticism of the policies of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. According to Pavol Szalai from the euractive portal, the Slovak President is more critical towards states that experience problems with democracy. Peter Strážay of the Slovak Foreign Policy Association adds that Čaputová has expressed her criticism in a very delicate manner, while at the same time stressing the fact that the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland are our important partners.
Slovak foreign policy is formed by the Foreign Ministry who claim that they co-ordinate the President's visits abroad. Nevertheless, the final version of the speech is always up to the President. "We find it important that the declarations of the Slovak President so far are keeping within the frame of the Slovak government manifesto and respect EU foreign policy," states the Slovak Foreign Ministry.
At her meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda on Monday, Zuzana Caputova stated that there are differences among the Visegrad Four (V4) countries (Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary), and that when it comes to the EU, Slovakia is the most integrated country among them. She pointed out that each V4 country is facing different challenges, and some of them have been criticised by the EU to varying degrees. "Some approach resolving problems in a different way than I personally or Slovakia would prefer," she noted. She considers it important that these differences can be openly discussed. "I indulged this openness at all meetings ... At meetings with the presidents of [the other] V4 countries I encountered equal openness and a proper dialogue," said Caputova on her recent visits to the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland.
President Caputova plans to visit also Austria and Ukraine, the countries neighbouring Slovakia to the west and to the east. Nevertheless, her next foreign trips will be to France and Germany.
