Slovakia Holds Referendum on Lifetime Annuities for Top Officials

On Saturday, July 4, 2026, Slovakia is holding a referendum in which citizens are asked to vote on two issues. The first question concerns the preservation of lifetime annuities for senior state officials, including current Prime Minister Robert Fico. The second question is about reinstating the special prosecutor's office for investigating serious crimes and corruption.

The referendum was initiated based on a petition by the pro-European liberal-conservative party "Democrats," which is not represented in parliament. The petition was signed by over 350,000 people out of Slovakia's 5.4 million citizens.

So far, only one referendum in Slovakia has been successful – the 2003 popular vote on joining the European Union. All other referendums failed due to low voter turnout. Current polls indicate that turnout is unlikely to reach the required 50% threshold.

Under current law, prime ministers and speakers of parliament who have served at least two full terms receive a lifetime annuity equivalent to the salary of a member of parliament. This annuity was introduced after the 2024 assassination attempt on Robert Fico. Previously, such a pension was only guaranteed to former presidents.

In 2024, the parliament supported the proposal of Fico's coalition to dissolve the special prosecutor's office dealing with organized crime and corruption. A police unit investigating such crimes was also disbanded. This decision faced sharp criticism both domestically and abroad, with thousands of Slovaks taking to the streets to protest. Many of Fico's close associates have been involved in corruption scandals.