Slovakia's Fico praises authoritarian states for economic efficiency

During a visit to Uzbekistan on Monday, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico suggested that authoritarian states may be more economically efficient than democracies and called for a reassessment of Europe's democratic model.

Fico said Europe should consider reforming its system of governance based on free elections to remain globally competitive. He praised countries like Uzbekistan, China and Vietnam for their ability to act more decisively in economic matters.

Pressed by journalists, Fico clarified that he was not calling for an end to democracy, but argued that involving too many political parties in decision-making weakens a state's ability to act.

"If you have a hundred political parties, you can't compete," he said. "If a government is made up of four political entities, you can't compete."

Fico, who returned to power in 2023 for a fourth term, has faced mass protests in recent months, with critics accusing him of authoritarian tendencies and pursuing a pro-Russian foreign policy. He previously reacted by saying the liberal opposition is trying to overturn election results through street pressure.