Slovakia’s foreign minister has come under growing domestic and international scrutiny after defending the country’s pivot towards Russia and rejecting Western criticism of his government’s actions, amid allegations of systemic discrimination within the Foreign Ministry. In a national broadcast on 31 May 2025, Juraj Blanár, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, claimed that former U.S. President Joe Biden bore responsibility for provoking the war in Ukraine and argued that the European Union’s support strategy had failed—positions that mirror Kremlin narratives and diverge sharply from Slovakia’s traditional Euro-Atlantic alignment. Blanár simultaneously dismissed warnings from Friedrich Merz, leader of Germany’s centre-right CDU and candidate for chancellor, who had threatened to call for EU funding cuts if Slovakia continued to stray from the Union’s shared values. His remarks come as the Foreign Ministry faces a high-profile anti-discrimination lawsuit from former diplomat Ivan Novotný, who alleges he and his partner, Metod Špaček—Slovakia’s only openly gay diplomatic couple—were targeted and dismissed due to their sexual orientation and pro-Western affiliations. The Slovak National Centre for Human Rights has confirmed discrimination in Novotný’s case. With a broader legal challenge reportedly in preparation, and concerns mounting over the influence of individuals linked to Russian institutions within the ministry, the affair has intensified concerns among Slovakia’s European allies about the country’s strategic orientation and democratic integrity under the government of Prime Minister Robert Fico.
Slovakia’s foreign policy direction came under renewed scrutiny following remarks made by Juraj Blanár, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, during a televised political debate on 31 May 2025. Blanár defended the government’s diplomatic course, asserting that Slovakia should pursue dialogue with Russia and maintain a foreign policy “in all four directions”—a reference to the current government’s stated aim to engage with both Western and non-Western powers.
In the same programme, Vladimíra Marcinková, a Member of Parliament from the Freedom and Solidarity party (Sloboda a Solidarita – SaS), voiced sharp criticism of this approach. She argued that such an ambiguous orientation was damaging to Slovakia’s international credibility, stating that the country’s alignment with Western democratic partners was not only politically but economically essential. According to Marcinková, nearly 90 percent of foreign investments in Slovakia originate from Western countries, making Western partnerships crucial contributors to the national budget.
Blanár responded by welcoming recent statements made by President Peter Pellegrini, who in his first formal address to the Slovak National Council (parliament) since assuming office, expressed support for a balanced foreign policy. The minister interpreted the president’s remarks as an endorsement of the current government’s stance. He claimed that Slovakia was acting in defence of its sovereign interests and rejected any suggestion of external political alignment, citing continued imports of Russian natural gas and nuclear fuel as evidence of pragmatic national policy.
In the same broadcast, Minister Blanár also commented on the war in Ukraine. He asserted that the conflict had been provoked by former United States President Joe Biden and that the European Union had failed in its objective to assist Ukraine in defeating Russia. Blanár reiterated his belief that future efforts should focus on peace negotiations rather than military support. Marcinková refuted this position, emphasising that without sustained Western aid, Ukraine would likely have lost the war.
The programme also addressed statements made by Friedrich Merz, chairman of Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and a candidate for chancellor. Merz recently warned that Slovakia could face a reduction in European Union financial support if it continues to distance itself from the Union’s shared political values and policy framework. While Marcinková described Merz’s warning as proportionate, noting Germany’s status as the EU’s largest contributor, Blanár dismissed the remarks as an unjustified attempt to punish Slovakia for acting independently.
Blanár further rejected ongoing concerns about misuse of European Union funds under the current administration. These concerns are the subject of an inquiry led by Czech Member of the European Parliament Tomáš Zdechovský, whose delegation recently visited Slovakia. The minister characterised the mission as politically driven and responded to criticism by stating that Slovakia should not be lectured by foreign officials, particularly those from neighbouring countries. He specifically objected to Zdechovský’s claim that a high-profile pension-related corruption case risked turning Slovakia into a “banana republic.”
Alongside the foreign policy debate, the conduct of the Foreign Ministry itself has drawn national and international attention. Ivan Novotný, a former Slovak diplomat and legal expert, has filed a discrimination lawsuit against the ministry. Novotný alleges that he was denied parental benefits and dismissed from his position due to his sexual orientation. His partner, Metod Špaček, also a career diplomat, faced a similar fate. Špaček’s nomination as Slovakia’s ambassador to the United Nations in New York was revoked following domestic media reports that framed his same-sex parenthood as controversial. His post was subsequently eliminated.
The Slovak National Centre for Human Rights (Slovenské národné stredisko pre ľudské práva – SNSĽP) confirmed that Novotný experienced discriminatory treatment. Despite this, the ministry has not offered a settlement and has refused to acknowledge any wrongdoing. According to Novotný, the dismissals were not isolated incidents but part of a broader purge targeting older employees and those with pro-Western or pro-Ukrainian views. He indicated that a collective lawsuit involving several former diplomats is being prepared.
Novotný has also criticised the current administration’s foreign policy direction publicly. In a statement posted on the professional networking platform LinkedIn, he argued that the government of Prime Minister Robert Fico, along with Minister Blanár, is advancing not Slovak national interests but those of the Russian Federation. Novotný further contended that, in the current political climate, Germany’s Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz is doing more to safeguard the interests of Slovak citizens than their own elected officials.
In response to these controversies, the Foreign Ministry has largely declined to comment, citing privacy concerns. Domestic media coverage of the case has varied, with some outlets publishing content that, according to critics, reinforces discriminatory stereotypes against LGBTQI+ individuals.
The discussion concluded with a brief exchange on the ongoing war in Gaza. Minister Blanár described the violence as unacceptable, while Marcinková characterised the situation as approaching the threshold of genocide. On the topic of future relations with Ukraine, Blanár suggested that a bilateral meeting between the Slovak and Ukrainian governments could take place in the autumn, although he did not confirm specific arrangements.