SaS: Fico Ignores National Interests, Undermines EU Unity Alongside Orban (2)

Bratislava, April 29 (TASR) - Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) is, together with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, undermining EU unity, according to MP Juraj Krupa (Freedom and Solidarity/SaS), who also criticises Fico for having no regard for national interests. "National interests have never meant anything to Fico, and yesterday we saw that he decided to throw them away," said Krupa at a Tuesday press conference in response to Monday's (April 28) meeting between Fico and Orban. He accused the premier of betraying the legacy of Slovakia's national figures and the very foundations of the country. "And all that just so he can have at least one partner in the European Union. Together with that partner, Viktor Orban, they are undermining the unity of the EU," he added. According to Krupa, the two agreed that the West and Brussels are "bad" and also aligned on suppressing freedoms and democracy in Slovakia. "Viktor Orban is helping him do that, and in return, he came to ask Robert Fico for support with the problems he himself is causing within the EU," Krupa said. According to Krupa, Orban is clearly showing revisionist tendencies towards Slovakia. He also reminded that Hungary is blocking the payment of €200 million to Slovakia from the European Peace Facility. [Funds intended to compensate for military equipment donated to Ukraine]. Krupa criticised the fact that this issue wasn't addressed in the talks between the Slovak and Hungarian prime ministers, and he also noted the absence of any discussion on resolving the long-standing dispute over the Gabcikovo–Nagymaros dam project. Premier Fico met with his Hungarian counterpart in Bratislava on Monday, stating that there are currently no open political issues causing friction between the two countries. Orban claimed that we're now living in a period of "the best Slovak-Hungarian relations of all time." Fico praised the Hungarian government's sovereign stance in defending its national interests within the EU and declared that, as Slovakia's premier, he'll never support anyone in the EU being punished for taking sovereign positions. lin/mcs