# Fico's Fourth Cabinet

Fico's Fourth Cabinet is the incumbent government of Slovakia. It is a three-party coalition government composed of Direction – Social Democracy (Smer), Voice – Social Democracy (Hlas) and the Slovak National Party (SNS).
It was appointed on 25 October 2023 by President Zuzana Čaputová following the 2023 Slovak parliamentary election. The National Council passed a vote of confidence in the government on 21 November 2023.

## Composition

| Portfolio | Minister | Took office | Left office | Party |
| Government's Office ||||||
| Prime Minister | Robert Fico | 25 October 2023 | Incumbent | Direction – Social Democracy |
| Deputy Prime Minister ||||||
| Deputy Prime Minister for European Union Subsidies and the Recovery Plan | Peter Kmec | 25 October 2023 | Incumbent | Voice – Social Democracy |
| Ministry of Defence ||||||
| Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence | Robert Kaliňák | 25 October 2023 | Incumbent | Direction – Social Democracy |
| Ministry of Economy ||||||
| Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy | Denisa Saková | 25 October 2023 | Incumbent | Voice – Social Democracy |
| Ministry of Environment ||||||
| Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Environment | Tomáš Taraba | 25 October 2023 | Incumbent | Slovak National Party |
| Ministry of Finance ||||||
| Minister of Finance | Ladislav Kamenický | 25 October 2023 | Incumbent | Direction – Social Democracy |
| Ministry of Transport ||||||
| Minister of Transport | Jozef Ráž | 25 October 2023 | Incumbent | Direction – Social Democracy |
| Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development ||||||
| Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development | Richard Takáč | 25 October 2023 | Incumbent | Direction – Social Democracy |
| Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatization ||||||
| Minister of Investments, Regional Development and Informatization | Richard Raši | 25 October 2023 | Incumbent | Voice – Social Democracy |
| Ministry of Interior ||||||
| Minister of Interior | Matúš Šutaj Eštok | 25 October 2023 | Incumbent | Voice – Social Democracy |
| Ministry of Justice ||||||
| Minister of Justice | Boris Susko | 25 October 2023 | Incumbent | Direction – Social Democracy |
| Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs ||||||
| Minister of Foreign and European Affairs | Juraj Blanár | 25 October 2023 | Incumbent | Direction – Social Democracy |
| Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family ||||||
| Minister of Labour, Social Affairs and Family | Erik Tomáš | 25 October 2023 | Incumbent | Voice – Social Democracy |
| Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth ||||||
| Minister of Education, Research, Development and Youth | Tomáš Drucker | 25 October 2023 | Incumbent | Voice – Social Democracy |
| Ministry of Culture ||||||
| Minister of Culture | Martina Šimkovičová | 25 October 2023 | Incumbent | Slovak National Party |
| Ministry of Health ||||||
| Minister of Health | Zuzana Dolinková | 25 October 2023 | 10 October 2024 | Voice – Social Democracy |
| Minister of Health | Kamil Šaško | 10 October 2024 | Incumbent | Voice – Social Democracy |
| Ministry of Tourism and Sport ||||||
| Minister of Tourism and Sport | Dušan Keketi | 1 February 2024 | 5 March 2025 | Slovak National Party |
| Minister of Tourism and Sport | Rudolf Huliak | 5 March 2025 | Incumbent | National Coalition / Independent Candidates |

## Supporting parties

| Party | Party | Party | Ideology | Leader | Deputies | Ministers |
| Direction – Social Democracy Smer - sociálna demokracia | Direction – Social Democracy Smer - sociálna demokracia | Direction – Social Democracy Smer - sociálna demokracia | Social conservatism Left-wing nationalism Euroscepticism Populism | Robert Fico | 42 / 150 | 7 / 17 |
| Voice – Social Democracy Hlas - sociálna demokracia | Voice – Social Democracy Hlas - sociálna demokracia | Voice – Social Democracy Hlas - sociálna demokracia | Social democracy Social conservatism Populism | Matúš Šutaj Eštok | 24 / 150 | 7 / 17 |
| Slovak National Party Slovenská národná strana | Slovak National Party Slovenská národná strana | Slovak National Party Slovenská národná strana | Ultranationalism National conservatism Euroscepticism | Andrej Danko | 7 / 150 | 2 / 17 |
| National Coalition / Independent Candidates Národná koalícia / Nezávislí kandidáti | National Coalition / Independent Candidates Národná koalícia / Nezávislí kandidáti | National Coalition / Independent Candidates Národná koalícia / Nezávislí kandidáti | National conservatism Slovak nationalism Ultranationalism | Rudolf Huliak | 3 / 150 | 1 / 17 |
| Slovak PATRIOT Slovenský PATRIOT | Slovak PATRIOT Slovenský PATRIOT | Slovak PATRIOT Slovenský PATRIOT | Social conservatism Slovak nationalism Russophilia | Miroslav Radačovský | 1 / 150 | 0 / 17 |

## Issues
### Domestic policy
#### Rule of law

In December 2023, the Fourth Cabinet of Robert Fico introduced an amendment to the Criminal Code. The government proposed that the bill be debated in a fast-track legislative procedure, arguing that the status quo leads to human rights violations. The amendment included scrapping the Special Prosecutor's Office dealing with high-level corruption and lowering penalties for financial crimes. The fast-track legislative procedure faced widespread criticism from the parliamentary opposition, President Zuzana Čaputová, the European Commission and non-governmental organizations, resulting in a weeks-long opposition parliamentary obstruction and a series of demonstrations.
Critics have raised questions about potential conflicts of interest within the government coalition. They have noted that various individuals with perceived affiliations to the government, alongside accused members of the coalition parties, including the bill's rapporteur, MP Tibor Gašpar of Smer, could be directly affected by the proposed lowering of penalties. Their cases are also overseen by the Special Prosecutor's Office, which the amendment would abolish. The coalition government introduced the amendment, citing the need to shift towards a rehabilitative approach to justice, update the criminal code, and align with European Union standards. Proponent of the law, the Ministry of Justice led by Boris Susko of Smer published the brochure "Overview of Violations of the Principles of the Rule of Law in the Years 2020–2023".
The amendment was finally approved by the National Council on 8 February 2024. The final proposal also included a reduction of the statute of limitations in rape cases from 20 to 10 years, which again caused widespread criticism from the parliamentary opposition, President Zuzana Čaputová and non-governmental organizations. The government defended the reduction of the limitation period by motivating victims to report rape earlier, possibly allowing a return to the 20-year limitation period in the next amendment after the approval of the law.
President Zuzana Čaputová signed the law on 16 February, verbally clearly expressing her opposition to its content. The President argued that by signing the law instead of vetoing it, she wants to create enough time for the Constitutional Court to decide on her submission challenging the constitutionality of the law. As of February 2024, the Constitutional Court is expected to make its decision following the publication of the law in the collection of laws by the Ministry of Justice. In July 2024, Constitutional Court anulled only minor changes in the law.
This reform stopped the prosecution of some corruption cases involving politicians and businessmen, some of whom were close to Fico. Among them were: former minister of finance Ján Počiatek. Oligarch Jozef Výboh, suspected of taking a bribe of 150,000 €, intended for Peter Pellegrini. And acting Speaker of the National Council Peter Žiga, suspected of an attempt to bribe a Supreme Court judge with 100,000 €.

#### Doctors' Strike

In 2024, the government faced a doctors' strike for better conditions. More than 3,300 doctors submitted their resignations. The government passed a bill according to which, when an emergency situation is declared, doctors can face up to one year in prison or 1,500€ fine for refusing to work, and up to five years if a patient is harmed as a consequence of their departure. Minister of Health Kamil Šaško considered using emergency situation in districts with the highest resignation rates. Ultimately the government signed an agreement with doctors' union with many concessions.

#### NGOs

Fico and some of his coalition members have shown their dislike for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and civil rights groups. On 30 April 2024, Slovakia's parliament approved in the first reading legislative amendment introduced by the Slovak National Party. The bill would require NGOs which annually receive more than €5,000 from outside of Slovakia to register as "foreign agents", raising fears of the label being used for organisations disliked by the current government.

#### Media

Fico and his political associates have stopped responding to and inviting to their press conferences reporters from some major news outlets that criticise the government, such as Denník N, Aktuality.sk, and Sme, along with broadcaster TV Markíza, calling them "enemy media", while giving preferential treatment to media more favourable to him. Pavol Szalai, the head of the EU and Balkans desk of Reporters Without Borders, stated that Fico was subjecting Slovakia's democracy to a "crash test".
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) stated: “RSF condemns the ruling parties’ verbal attacks, their attempts to restrict access to information and their questioning of the independence of the public broadcaster RTVS.”
The government has proposed a drastic cut in the financing of the RTVS, as well as a plan to split it into separate radio and television companies, attracting criticism from Reporters Without Borders and other organisations.
RSF, International Press Institute, European Federation of Journalists, Free Press Unlimited and European Centre for Press and Media Freedom have voiced their concerns in an open letter to the President and the National Council. They have stated that these government actions can weaken the independence of this media and endanger the freedom of the press in Slovakia.
In April 2024, the Government of Slovakia approved the Television and Radio Act proposed by prime minister Robert Fico and minister of culture Martina Šimkovičová over alleged partiality of the broadcaster. If the bill is supported by the Parliament of Slovakia, Radio and Television of Slovakia RTVS will be closed by the following June and replaced by a new broadcaster, named STVR.
The new broadcaster STVR was required by law to broadcast the Slovak national anthem once a day, a move seen as a nationalist gesture.
In June 2024, the Parliament of Slovakia voted in favor of the media laws. The Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS) was dissolved and replaced by a new media Slovak Television and Radio (STVR).

#### Constitutional amendments

On 27 January 2025, Prime Minister: Fico announced plans for constitutional amendments to the Constitution of Slovakia. One would place the constitution higher than international treaties and agreements, another would formally recognize only two genders (Male and female), restrict "gender transition" and prohibit the adoption of children by same-sex couples.

### Foreign policy
#### Ukraine

Fico is widely seen as pro-Russian, and his government has stopped militarily supporting Ukraine, saying he "will not send one bullet" to Ukraine. Fico has been opposing sanctions against Russia, with his standpoint on Ukraine being compared to that of Viktor Orbán. In an RTVS interview, Fico questioned Ukraine's sovereignty and independence, claiming that Ukraine is just a US puppet, sparking outrage in both Slovakia and Ukraine. He has also stated that Slovakia will veto Ukraine's NATO membership, and has pushed for a peace deal, even if Ukraine suffers territorial losses. His words regarding Ukraine have been described as "heartless", "vulgar" and "disgraceful".
Upon taking office, Fico officially ended Slovakia's arms supplies to Ukraine. However, he has since taken a somewhat different line on Ukraine in office than during his election campaign. During a meeting with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in January 2024, Fico promised not to block private Slovak arms companies from selling to Ukraine, not to block EU financial support for Ukraine, and to support the accession of Ukraine to the European Union. He described Slovakia's political differences with Ukraine as "minor" and claimed to support Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Fico met with Russian president Vladimir Putin in December 2024 in Moscow to discuss primarily the transfer of Russian gas to Slovakia. He become the third Western leader to do so since the war started.