Former Finance Minister Warns of Growing Business-Government Divide in Slovakia

Former Finance Minister Ivan Mikloš has raised concerns about the deepening disconnect between Slovakia's government and business community, warning that the country cannot prosper when the ruling coalition celebrates policies that the private sector views as threats. Writing in the newspaper SME, Mikloš criticized what he described as the government's tendency to frame controversial measures as historic victories while businesses express alarm about their potential economic impact. The commentary reflects broader tensions between the current government, led by Prime Minister Robert Fico's Smer-SD party, and Slovakia's business sector over economic policy direction. Mikloš, who served as finance minister in previous center-right governments and is known for his pro-market policies, has been a frequent critic of the current administration's approach to economic governance.