Slovakia is poised to become the only country to formally oppose a global pandemic treaty negotiated by the World Health Organization, following a decision led by Prime Minister Robert Fico, whose government has increasingly aligned with nationalist and anti-globalist narratives. The treaty, developed by more than 190 countries over three years and expected to be adopted by consensus at the upcoming WHO assembly, aims to strengthen coordination during future health crises through shared data systems, joint response mechanisms, and equitable access to treatments. While Slovakia’s Ministry of Health and expert working groups support the agreement, the prime minister claims it serves pharmaceutical interests and threatens national sovereignty—an assertion contradicted by public health authorities. The move reflects a broader pattern dating to the COVID-19 pandemic, when Fico and his party promoted rhetoric consistent with Russian-backed disinformation campaigns targeting vaccines and multilateral institutions. Having returned to power in 2023 amid widespread public distrust, and now governing with a fragile majority and limited political capacity, Fico has increasingly mobilised confrontational messaging to consolidate support among anti-establishment and disinformation-prone voters. His government’s planned rejection of the WHO treaty signals not only a domestic political strategy but a strategic distancing from transnational governance frameworks.
Slovakia has announced it will formally reject a global pandemic preparedness treaty proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO), becoming the only country among more than 190 member states to demand a vote on the agreement. The decision will be made public at the upcoming WHO assembly, where all other countries were expected to adopt the treaty by consensus.
The treaty, under negotiation since the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, is designed to improve international coordination during future health crises. It establishes mechanisms for faster data-sharing, joint responses to outbreaks, and equitable access to treatments. Slovakia’s move to block consensus and force a vote has drawn international attention due to its singularity.
The decision was led by Prime Minister Robert Fico, who publicly alleged that the WHO is influenced by pharmaceutical companies and claimed the treaty would undermine national sovereignty. These claims were rejected by Slovakia’s Ministry of Health and by independent expert groups, which characterised the treaty as a voluntary, non-binding framework for cooperation.
While no formal explanatory memorandum accompanied the decision, the context surrounding the move offers insight into its underlying drivers. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Fico and his party embraced narratives that aligned with Russian-backed disinformation campaigns. These included casting doubt on vaccination programmes, portraying public health measures as authoritarian overreach, and challenging the credibility of Western institutions. According to monitoring organisations such as Globsec and Infosecurity.sk, this messaging played a significant role in mainstreaming conspiracy theories and eroding public trust in science and governance.
Observers have noted that this strategy contributed to Fico’s return to power in 2023, particularly by mobilising distrustful and anti-establishment segments of the electorate. In the current parliamentary term, facing a fragile majority and a limited governing cadre, Fico has increasingly leaned on confrontational rhetoric to consolidate support among the most radical elements of the electorate. The rejection of the WHO treaty reflects this trajectory—reaffirming his government’s political alignment and its broader resistance to multilateral governance.
Source:
Lucia Osvaldová | Denník N
Victor Breiner | Slovak Media Monitor
