The Slovak Parliament adopted a resolution calling on government members to refrain from supporting new sanctions against Russia in international organizations, as reported by Noviny.sk.
The document emphasizes the need to focus on stabilizing the energy market, reducing price fluctuations, and protecting Slovakia’s strategic and economic interests.
The resolution was supported by 51 of the 76 deputies present. Only Jan Ferenčák from the Hlas-SD party voted against it, while 23 parliamentarians mostly abstained from voting. Opposition deputies refused to participate in the vote.
The text of the resolution states that sanctions against Russia and trade restrictions lead to rising energy prices, disrupt supply chains, and reduce the competitiveness of the country’s economy. According to the authors of the document, further expansion of sanctions policy could harm industry, the economy, and ordinary citizens of Slovakia. Therefore, the parliament demands that the government actively oppose steps that could damage national interests and defend the country’s economic priorities in foreign policy.
Earlier, Slovak President Peter Pellegrini stated that a referendum to cancel sanctions against Russia cannot be announced because the wording of the proposed question does not comply with legal requirements. At the same time, on May 17, Prime Minister Robert Fico expressed willingness to support such a referendum. He also said that the rush to approve a new package of sanctions against Russia “looks inappropriate,” since, in his opinion, such measures only escalate the confrontation between Russia and Ukraine.
According to the Constitution of Slovakia, the president is obliged to announce a referendum if a petition with the corresponding demand is signed by at least 350 thousand citizens. The president has 30 days from the moment the petition is submitted to make a decision about announcing the referendum. The referendum is considered valid if more than half of the citizens entitled to vote participate and the majority of them support the decision put to the vote.
