IDM Short-Insights 60: Slovakia — A government party votes against its own minister

/in , /by
Print

What happens when a ruling party turns against its own minister and an early election suddenly becomes a possibility?

Slovakia is facing a new government crisis as tensions within Robert Fico’s coalition escalate. A no-confidence vote has exposed growing divisions between coalition partners, raising questions about the stability of the government and what could come next.

 

Transcript:

“What’s happening in Slovakia? A ruling party just voted with the opposition against its own minister, and now there is even talk of early elections.

In Slovakia, the possibility of an early election has been avoided. But in return, the country has ended up with a small government crisis. In the last week of September, the smallest coalition party, the Slovak Nationalist Party (SNS), joined the opposition in a no-confidence vote and removed its own environmental minister, Tomáš Taraba.

Taraba became minister in 2023, but he was not the first choice of SNS. They wanted Rudolf Huliak for the position. However, the president at that time, Zuzana Čaputová, refused to appoint him because Huliak had denied climate change. So, Taraba ended up becoming the minister. He was officially nominated by the SNS, but he had a bad relationship with the party leader, Andrej Danko, from the very beginning.

Danko wanted Prime Minister Robert Fico to remove Taraba from the government. First, Fico agreed, but then he changed his mind and withdrew the proposal. Instead, Fico went on the offensive. He warned Danko that if he could not resolve his crisis with Taraba, an early election could follow. And that would be very bad news for Danko’s party because the nationalist party would not get 5% in the election. But then Danko got some help from an unexpected side. The opposition was also unhappy with Taraba, so at the end, Taraba’s own party, the SNS, together with the opposition, had enough votes against him.

But there is a catch. Taraba remains a member of parliament, and the Fico government only has a very narrow majority, so it may still need Taraba’s vote in the future. However, Fico and Danko have both said that the government will continue and that they do not want an early election. The regular elections are scheduled for autumn 2027.”

Austausch mit Klaus Fiesinger am IDM

/in /by

Das IDM durfte diese Woche Dr. Klaus Fiesinger zu einem Austausch in Wien begrüßen. Fiesinger ist seit vielen Jahren für die Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung in Mittel-, Ost- und Südosteuropa tätig und leitet aktuell deren Arbeit in Südosteuropa. 

Zugleich ist er dem IDM seit Langem als Mitglied verbunden. Im Gespräch mit IDM-Direktor Sebastian Schäffer ging es um aktuelle Entwicklungen in Südosteuropa, die Arbeit beider Institutionen in der Region sowie um Möglichkeiten, die Zusammenarbeit künftig wieder zu intensivieren. 

Gerade angesichts der politischen und gesellschaftlichen Herausforderungen in Südosteuropa bleibt der persönliche und institutionelle Austausch über Länder- und Organisationsgrenzen hinweg besonders wichtig. 

Das IDM freut sich auf die Fortsetzung des Austauschs und weitere gemeinsame Aktivitäten. 

Péter Techet in EUobserver on Hungarian-Ukrainian Relations

/in , , , , /by

The news portal EUobserver spoke with Péter Techet about the relations between Budapest and Kyiv, which have remained conflict-ridden even after the change of government in Budapest.

After Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the creation of a new cooperation initiative, the Carpathians Eight (C8), reportedly including Hungary as well, Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar rejected the invitation, and Kyiv’s claim that Hungary would become a member, in unusually harsh terms.

Techet described Hungarian foreign policy towards Ukraine as “Orbánism without Orbán,” arguing that Budapest has remained similarly critical of Ukraine under Magyar as it was under Orbán.

The article can be read here: Orbánism without Orbán? Why Magyar picked a fight with Kyiv over the ‘Carpathian Eight’

IDM Director Schäffer on QNews: Europe cannot outsource its security

/in , , , /by

 

 

IDM Director Sebastian Schäffer returned to QNews to discuss Germany’s latest support package for Ukraine, the intensifying Russian aerial campaign ahead of winter and the broader implications for European security. 

Commenting on Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s visit to Ukraine and the accompanying military and industrial cooperation, Schäffer stressed that continued support for Kyiv should not be understood as an act of charity. Rather, helping Ukraine defend itself is directly connected to Europe’s own security and future economic stability. With US engagement becoming less predictable, he argued that European states need to assume greater responsibility: Europe cannot indefinitely outsource its security. 

The interview also addressed the sustainability of European defence spending and continued financial support for Ukraine. Schäffer pointed out that deterrence and defence are ultimately less costly than allowing the war and its consequences to spread further across the continent. He also highlighted the recent Latvian election as an indication that sustained support for Ukraine can continue to receive democratic backing despite growing domestic political pressures. 

Turning to Russia’s intensified attacks on Kyiv and Ukrainian infrastructure, Schäffer emphasised that the campaign increasingly affects civilian mobility, energy supplies and the ability of major urban centres to function. At the same time, the rapidly evolving use of drones creates new challenges for air defence. Expensive conventional interceptor systems alone cannot provide an economically sustainable response to mass-produced drones, making Ukrainian innovation and expanded defence-industrial cooperation with European partners increasingly important. 

The discussion concluded with Ukraine’s continued ability to strike Russian energy infrastructure and the wider debate about possible negotiations. Schäffer cautioned against confusing a simple end to hostilities with a sustainable settlement. As he has argued previously, without a just peace, there is just peace. Any durable settlement must also address the conditions that could otherwise lead to renewed war.

Watch the full interview on QNews: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbBbQnOk5jI 

Treffen mit Leiter des KAS Auslandsbüros China – Shanghai

/in /by

Heute durften wir David Merkle, Leiter des Auslandsbüros China – Shanghai der Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), am IDM begrüßen.

Gemeinsam mit IDM-Direktor Sebastian Schäffer und Sophia Beiter sprachen wir über aktuelle Entwicklungen in den Beziehungen zwischen China und Europa – vor allem aber darüber, was diese für Mittel- und Osteuropa sowie die Donauregion bedeuten.

Im Mittelpunkt standen die politischen und wirtschaftlichen Veränderungen in unserer Region, Chinas Rolle und Interessen vor Ort sowie die Frage, wie sich Europas Beziehungen zu China unter veränderten geopolitischen Rahmenbedingungen weiterentwickeln.

Vielen Dank für den offenen und anregenden Austausch!

 

Which European myth should we stop believing in? – Episode 2

/in /by

In the second episode of Quick Question, we asked IDM Director Sebastian Schäffer and Research Associates Ninon Bouteloup, Sophia Beiter and Péter Techet which European myth we should stop believing in. Watch the episode to find out the many different answers this question inspired! 

Quick Question is an IDM’s series where trainees ask members of our team fun, thought-provoking and sometimes even controversial questions. There are no right or wrong answers, only honest opinion and plenty of different perspectives.  

You have a question for next month’s episode? Share it in the comments of the video:  

LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube 

IDM Director Schäffer comments on Wadephul-Lavrov meeting for TVP World

/in , , , /by

IDM Director Sebastian Schäffer commented for TVP World on the meeting between German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. 

Schäffer argued that, despite the meeting producing few tangible results, it was right for Wadephul to engage directly with Lavrov. “We cannot outsource diplomacy. We cannot leave it to others. We can also not outsource our security,” he said, stressing that European states need to remain directly involved even when Moscow subsequently dismisses such diplomatic efforts. 

Commenting on Lavrov’s accusations against Germany and Ukraine, Schäffer warned that this rhetoric serves a broader Russian narrative intended to justify its actions and provide plausible deniability. He said he expects increased Russian activity not only in Germany but also in other NATO member states. 

The report also addressed Germany’s response to the attempted drone attack at Leipzig Airport and Wadephul’s warning that further hybrid attacks would not weaken German support for Ukraine. 

Watch the full TVP World report: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9JMjnN6n-k

Péter Techet für die Neue Zürcher Zeitung über Jörg Haiders Aufstieg

/in , , /by

In einem Essay in der Neuen Zürcher Zeitung bespricht Peter Techet den Aufstieg Jörg Haiders, der vor 40 Jahren zum Parteivorsitzenden der FPÖ gewählt wurde, als Urmoment des modernen Populismus: Haider entwickelte die deutschnationale, rechtsliberale FPÖ zu einer „Partei der Enttäuschten“. Statt Ideologie bot er ihnen unterschiedliche Feindbilder an. Techet behandelt dabei auch die ideologischen Ursprünge des „Dritten Lagers“, den Deutschnationalismus und dessen Rolle in einem Österreich, das seine Identität in der Ersten Republik noch anders auffasste als in der Zweiten Republik.

Der Artikel kann hier gelesen werden: Der Urpopulismus aus Österreich – wie Jörg Haider einer diffusen Unzufriedenheit ein Gesicht gab

Sebastian Schäffer on Germany’s political centre: Europe needs a convincing story about the future

/in , , /by

In an interview with Q News’ In Focus, IDM Director Sebastian Schäffer discussed the changing German political landscape, the electoral success of parties at the political fringes and the challenges facing Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Germany’s traditional parties. 

Schäffer argued that dissatisfaction with established parties is being driven not only by economic and social concerns, but also by a growing uncertainty about the future. In this environment, parties such as the AfD have been successful in presenting simple answers and tapping into fears about economic decline, migration and security. 

At the same time, he stressed that defending the status quo is not enough. Germany and Europe need to address structural challenges while communicating more convincingly what European integration has achieved and what a prosperous European future could look like. 

The discussion also addressed Germany’s economic transformation, competition from China, the future of the automotive industry and the political debate surrounding the so called firewall against the AfD. Schäffer argued that democratic parties cannot rely on excluding the AfD from government alone. They need to offer credible policies and a convincing political alternative rather than adopting the rhetoric of their competitors. 

For Schäffer, the broader challenge is therefore not only to defend Europe’s achievements, but to turn them into a convincing story about the future: one that gives people confidence in what Europe can still become instead of leaving the political imagination to those promising a return to an imagined past.

Watch the full interview on Q News: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okoYKKN8oiw 

 

Péter Techet for Klubrádió on populism in Central Europe

/in , , , , , /by

On the Hungarian radio station Klubrádió, Péter Techet spoke about the similarities between different populist movements in Central Europe (right-wing, left-wing, as well as pragmatic-technocratic ones) from the AfD and FPÖ to the Tisza Party.

A common feature of these movements is their opposition to the political system, which allows them to appeal to a range of different resentments. At the same time, however, populism in Germany and Austria is directed against a liberal democracy, whereas the system under Orbán’s government in Hungary was an illiberal democracy; consequently, Péter Magyar’s populism wanted to change an illiberal system.

The interview can be listened to here: https://www.klubradio.hu/archivum/eurozona-2026-szeptember-25-pentek-1300-60807