Slovak PM faces backlash over luxury Vietnam vacation
Since his visit to Moscow in December, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has not made any public appearances, fueling speculation that he might be in Vietnam. The newspaper Sme reported on Saturday that Slovak President Peter Pellegrini is aware of Fico's whereabouts but has chosen not to disclose them.
Pellegrini's press office confirmed this information from Sme. In response to the newspaper's inquiries, the office stated, "The president has been informed about the length and location of the prime minister's vacation. " Additionally, it noted, "It is not the president's role to comment on his location. This is an independent decision of the prime minister."
Since the visit to Moscow on December 22, 2024, Fico has not appeared publicly, although he has posted two videos online commenting on Ukraine's halt of Russian gas transit.
On Friday, the newspaper Denník N reported that a reader identified the location of one of these videos as being filmed in a luxurious suite at the five-star hotel Capella Hanoi in Vietnam. One night in this hotel reportedly costs about $6,500.
Protests in Bratislava
The report prompted a lively response on social media. Michal Šimečka, leader of the largest opposition party Progressive Slovakia (PS), stated that his party would make sure everyone affected by high prices and disappointed with Fico knows the cost of the prime minister's stay in the Hanoi hotel. Former foreign minister and previous presidential candidate Ivan Korčok remarked that the situation is unprecedented, emphasizing that the prime minister is not merely a private citizen, even when on vacation.
On Friday, thousands of Slovaks took to the streets of Bratislava to protest against the prime minister's policies. The demonstrators chanted slogans such as, "We are not a Russian puppet!" and carried Slovak and European Union flags.
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Source: PAP
