Fico's claim

Prime Minister Robert Fico said the 2003 referendum on Slovakia's entry into the European Union was falsified (Referendum o vstupu Slovenska do Evropské unie bylo zfalšované, tvrdí premiér Fico – Novinky.cz) (Fico spochybnil referendum o vstupe Slovenska do EÚ. Keby nebolo sfalšované, nie je úspešné, tvrdil – HNonline.sk). He spoke at the opening of the School of Social Democracy, organised by his Smer party, and during a livestreamed discussion with former Czech prime minister Václav Klaus.

Fico acknowledged that accession was accompanied by strong enthusiasm and high expectations. He argued, however, that the vote was so close that the result would not have been a success without manipulation. He said adjustments were made so that the outcome would be what he considered correct. He offered no details or evidence for the claim.

Context of the vote

The referendum took place in May 2003, with turnout of 52.15 percent, and a large majority backed membership. Smer was in opposition at the time but supported accession, and Fico said that without the support of the then opposition, including Smer and Vladimír Mečiar, the referendum would not have succeeded.

Reaction

Progressive Slovakia lawmaker Beáta Jurík criticised the remarks, saying Fico was questioning EU institutions, Slovakia's membership and the democratic will expressed by voters in the referendum. She also objected to the prime minister making the remarks before young people.