One year earlier than planned, election campaign posters are now set to decorate the streets of the Slovak capital./CGTN/Gerald Steindl
In Slovakia, a snap election is set to take place by September at the latest. It comes after the EU member's government lost a parliamentary no-confidence vote after its coalition partner joined opposition parties to defeat the cabinet.
"Given that our coalition lacks the votes to form a new majority, a discussion about early elections is in order," acting Prime Minister Eduard Heger wrote on social media.
There has been anger and frustration on the streets of Bratislava at the prospect of more political upheaval. Heger had not completed a full year in office before he was forced to call for new elections. In the past decade, Slovakia's government has changed every two years.
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"The people just want to have stability," Bratislava resident Lucia Kobzova told CGTN Europe. "We haven't had it ever since the new government came."
"If the extremists will win then it might be worse but at the same time the way the government is ruled now, it's not sustainable," state employee Jan Brunovsky adds.
Slovakia's major newspapers critisize the lacking political stability in the country./CGTN/Gerald Steindl
Opinion polls have given opposition parties, including the Smer party of former Prime Minister Robert Fico, a lead over the current government coalition.
There's speculation that if Fico returns to power, he might attempt to halt the numerous corruption investigations against him... and align his country with EU neighbor Hungary, who has been critical of the bloc. Fico has also echoed Hungary's criticism of sanctions imposed on Russia following the Ukraine war.
The upcoming elections could put an end to Slovakia's pro-Western position. Given the wide-spread pro-Russian sentiment among the population, the next prime minister residing at Bratislava's summer palace could halt the numerous weapon deliveries to Ukraine and put the country at odds with the majority of the EU.”
Bratislava's mayor recently claimed that government measures made the city one of the the poorest European capitals./CGTN/Gerald Steindl
The political turmoil comes as most Slovaks face economic challenges. The average income in this country of 5 million people is one of the lowest in the European Union, but inflation rates are among the highest.
And while Slovaks want stability, opinion polls show a majority in favor of the fresh elections, hoping they could bring change for the better.