A sharp conflict broke out in the plenary session of the National Assembly of the Slovak Republic even before the end of the debate on the motion to dismiss the government and several ministers. He was called by MP Michal Bartek (Hlas), who attacked his colleague from the opposition, František Miklošek (KDH).
Bartek did not put a napkin in front of his mouth. “I appreciate the gray hair on Mr. Miklošek’s head. But I despise what this man did in politics,” he said. “How can this person stand here in 2026 and say that he is going to defend the interests of the Slovak Republic, when he has always been against the interests of the Slovak Republic? He did not even vote for the Constitution of the Slovak Republic,” he continued. He then compared Miklošek with former Prime Minister Vladimír Mečiar. “You Mečiars don’t even reach your ankles, and I stand behind this statement,” he declared.
The KDH deputy was supported by other opposition colleagues, for which he expressed his gratitude. He summed up the meeting by saying that it was an “awkward night”. KDH Chairman Milan Majerský later in the plenary called on MP Bartek to publicly apologize to František Miklošek for his statements. “I would like to call on Mr. Bartek to apologize to Mr. František Miklošek for the insult he addressed to him this morning,” said Majerský.
Bartek refused the challenge. “In my speech, I was very careful not to use any expressive or vulgar language in the address of Mr. Miklošek,” he stated. The heated situation was ended by PS deputy Zuzana Števulová, who proposed that the deputies pay their respects to Miklošek with a standing ovation as a figure of November 1989. Part of the plenum joined in the gesture, but other deputies remained seated.
The verbal exchange in the plenary did not escape the attention of former president Zuzana Čaputová. A member of the KDH publicly defended herself. “František Mikloško is a person I respect a lot. One of the intellectuals who live what they believe and what they say. A man of faith – strong, honest, demanding of himself and others, but above all based on respect for people. Capable of sharp but objective criticism, not discrediting or humiliating the other. Mr. Mikloško, you are valuable to Slovakia,” the former head of state sent via the social network.
