Slovakia's president completes cabinet reshuffle to secure government majority

Slovakia's president has sworn in a new minister of investments and regional development, completing a reshuffle that keeps a parliamentary majority for the government.

The appointment of Samuel Migaľ was a result of a deal agreed on by three parties in governing coalition to increase the power of the Smer (Direction) party of Prime Minister Robert Fico.

Under the agreement, the coalition's two junior partners — the Hlas (Voice) party and the ultranationalist and pro-Russian Slovak National Party — gave up control of one ministry each to Smer.

With the addition of the ministries overseeing investments, regional development and information, and tourism and sports, Smer now controls nine ministries, Hlas six and the Slovak National Party two.

The deal was struck to solve a recent crisis in the coalition that risked its parliamentary majority.

The coalition had 79 seats in the 150-seat parliament known as the National Council before four Hlas lawmakers, including Migaľ and three others, from the Slovak National Party parted with their parliamentary factions.

The lawmakers did not join the opposition but have demanded posts in the government, parliament and state institutions in exchange for their loyalty.

That has made it difficult for the government to advance its agenda.

Another rebel from Hlas, Radomír Šalitroš, will become a state secretary at the ministry led by Migaľ.

Pellegrini had already sworn in Rudolf Huliak, one of the rebels representing the Slovak National Party, as the minister of tourism and sports.

Richard Raši, the predecessor of Migaľ at the ministry, has resigned and is expected to be elected the parliamentary speaker. That post is vacant since the previous speaker, Pellegrini, won last year's presidential election.

Robert Fico is a divisive figure in Slovak politics with many people in the country opposed to what they see as his pro-Russia stance.

When he came to power in 2023, he cut financial and military aid to Ukraine and said he would block the country from joining NATO.

Those moves have proved highly unpopular with many ordinary Slovakians and sparked a wave of protests across the country.