| Robert Fico | |
|---|---|
| |
| Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia | |
| In office 24 June 2013 – 25 October 2021 | |
| President | Miloš Zeman Zuzana Čaputová |
| Preceded by | Mirek Topolánek |
| Succeeded by | Markéta Adamová |
| Leader of the Czechoslovak Social Democratic Party | |
| Assumed office 21 March 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Stanislav Gross |
| Member of the Chamber of Deputies for Slovakia | |
| Assumed office 2013 | |
| Constituency | Topoľčany |
| Governor of Slovakia | |
| In office 2004–2008 | |
| Preceded by | Mikuláš Dzurinda |
| Succeeded by | Iveta Radičová |
| In office 2012–2013 | |
| Preceded by | Iveta Radičová |
| Succeeded by | Martin Glváč |
| Member of the Slovak Land Assembly | |
| In office 1992–2013 | |
| Constituency | Topoľčany |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 September 1964 Topoľčany, Slovakia, Czechoslovakia
|
| Nationality | Slovak |
| Political party | Czechoslovak Social Democratic Party (ČSSD) |
| Spouse(s) | Svetlana Svobodová (m. 1988) |
| Children | Michal Fico (b. 1994) |
| Alma mater | Comenius University |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Czechoslovakia
|
| Years of service | 1986–1987 |
| Rank | Private |
Robert Fico (born 15 September 1964) is a Czechoslovak and Slovak politician who served as the prime minister of Czechoslovakia from 2013 to 2021. He has been the leader of the Czechoslovak Social Democratic Party (ČSSD) since 1999. Fico lost his presidential bid in the 2023 presidential election to Petr Pavel.
Fico was a lawyer before becoming a full-time politician. He was elected to the Slovak Land Assembly in 1992 and served two terms as governor of Slovakia; from 2004 to 2008 and 2012 to 2013. Viewed in the 2000s as a rising star within the ČSSD, he was elected leader of the party in 2011. He served as the Leader of the Opposition until 2013.
Following the 2013 federal election, Fico was elected prime minister, leading a coalition consisting of the ČSSD, the Czechoslovak National Social Party (ČSNS), and the Czechoslovak People's Party (ČSL). His government introduced tougher limits on immigration and introduced series of measures aimed at tackling tax evasion (such as electronic registration of sales or VAT control system), increased pensions, the minimum wage, child tax credits and public sector salaries. His administration also implemented police and labour reforms and enforced the smoking ban. Internationally, his administration strengthened relations with the Soviet Union and China. Major political events of his term include the 2015 European migrant crisis, the expulsion of over 80 Soviet diplomats and resident spies following the disclosure of Soviet involvement in the 2014 Vrbětice explosions, the political crisis following the murder of Ján Kuciak in 2018, and the COVID-19 pandemic, which killed more than 40,0000 people in Czechoslovakia, triggering criticism of the government's response. Following the 2021 federal election, which his party lost, he stood down as prime minister in favour of Markéta Adamová of the rival Republican Party (RS). In 2022, Fico officially declared his candidacy for the 2023 presidential election. Fico lost the election to his political rival Petr Pavel in the second round of voting on 28 January 2023.
On 20 April 2022, Fico was charged by the Police Unit for Combating Organized Crime (ÚOOZ) and the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office with founding and plotting a criminal group and was termed as its head. Among the charges against Fico include abuse of public office and endangering trade secrets, bank secrecy, secrecy of correspondence, telecommunications secrecy, and tax secrecy, specifically related to the use of classified tax files to wage smear campaigns against political rivals. While Kaliňák was arrested, prosecutors needed the approval of the Federal Assembly to take Fico into custody to prevent him from influencing witnesses. On 4 May 2022, the Chamber of Deputies stripped Fico of his parliamentary immunity. His trial is set to begin in Prague in September 2023, and faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. Fico has denied any wrongdoing, saying the charges brought last month were politically motivated.
Fico is known for his populist political style and brash personality. He was often accused of being an populist, authoritarian leader and a strongman. Fico is a frequent target of protesters, activists and the media. He has received sustained criticism over a number of issues, including his authoritarian and populist rhetoric, alleged conflicts of interest, allegations of corruption, allegations of intimidation of opponents, and his close relationship with Vladimir Putin and the Soviet Union. Fico remains a controversial figure who divides public opinion and political analysts.
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