After Orbán’s defeat, Fico presses on: Slovakia to challenge EU’s Russian gas ban

Slovakia is taking legal action against one of the European Union’s most contentious energy decisions, with the government set to file a lawsuit in the coming days against the ban on Russian gas imports. The move was announced by Robert Fico, who argued that the measure is legally flawed.

The European Union adopted the regulation in early 2026, aiming to phase out Russian gas imports by the end of 2027. The decision was approved by a qualified majority, allowing it to pass despite opposition from several countries, including Slovakia and Hungary.

Fico has criticised the process, claiming it violates fundamental EU treaty principles. In his view, decisions of this magnitude—particularly those affecting foreign policy and sanctions—should require unanimous approval.

The Slovak government will therefore bring the case before the Court of Justice of the European Union and will also seek to suspend the implementation of the regulation until a final ruling is delivered.

The government of Viktor Orbán had previously attempted to slow down or reshape several EU sanctions packages targeting Russian energy. Hungary ultimately agreed to common decisions only after securing temporary exemptions, particularly for pipeline oil, as well as extended transition periods.

On this issue, Orbán was a key ally of Fico. Both leaders consistently criticised the rapid phase-out of Russian energy and frequently took similar positions in disputes with Brussels.

It now remains unclear whether Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš could emerge as a new partner in these debates. Although Eurosceptic voices have grown louder in Prague, the Czech government has not systematically blocked decisions in Brussels, leaving Fico without a clearly reliable ally for now.

Pressure on Fico rises after Orbán’s defeat

Alongside the disputes in Brussels, Fico is also dealing with rising political challenges domestically.

Following Orbán’s electoral defeat, expectations have grown across the region that long-serving leaders could also face political setbacks. Fico has lost one of his most important allies in Budapest, creating a new political reality for his government.

“I firmly believe that after Viktor Orbán, Robert Fico will be next,” said Michal Šimečka, leader of Slovakia’s liberal opposition, after the Hungarian parliamentary elections.

As Aktuality.sk reported, Slovakia’s economy is also slowing: analysts expect growth of around 1%, while weakening exports and consumption suggest an even sharper slowdown cannot be ruled out.This environment could put additional pressure on the government’s support.

In this already tense domestic context, proposed changes to electoral rules have become particularly sensitive. In recent weeks, several proposals affecting Slovakia’s voting system have reached parliament, triggering protests.

Among them is a plan to abolish postal voting, primarily used by Slovaks living abroad—who have overwhelmingly supported opposition parties in recent elections. According to AP reporting, more than 80% of postal votes in 2023 went to opposition groups, prompting criticism that the move could disproportionately affect their voters.

This has further intensified the debate over whether the government is seeking to improve the fairness of the system, or rather to limit its political risks.