Slovakia's PM under fire for luxury Vietnam stay amidst crisis
Two weeks ago, Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico flew to Moscow under mysterious circumstances for a meeting with Putin. It is still unknown how he got there, as government planes are still parked at the airport. Interestingly, his whereabouts have remained unknown since then. According to media reports, he is likely vacationing at a luxury hotel in Vietnam.
Since the visit to the Kremlin, Fico has only been posting videos on social media. The latest one appeared on Thursday. Slovakia's Prime Minister mentioned that the country will lose 500 million euros (approximately 745 million CAD) annually due to transit fees because of President Volodymyr Zelensky's decision to stop Russian gas deliveries through Ukraine. He also threatened to halt electricity supplies to Ukraine.
In the video, he is sitting against a window tightly covered with curtains. To his right, part of a TV screen in an ornate frame and a table with a telephone can be seen. A reader of Slovakia's "Denník N" determined that the video was recorded inside the luxury hotel "Capella Hanoi" in Vietnam's capital.
According to "Denník N," Fico is staying in the most luxurious suite of this hotel – on the seventh floor. The suite, as calculated by the Slovak newspaper, has an area of 194 square metres. Its windows offer a view of Con Coc Garden, the Old Quarter in Hanoi, and Le Phung Hieu Street.
One night costs more than half of Fico's salary
One night in this luxury costs 6,203 euros (around 9,230 CAD). Meanwhile, Prime Minister Fico's salary – even after a raise, as the newspaper reminds – is 11,200 euros (about 16,680 CAD). "It is not clear how many nights Fico has spent in the luxury suite," added "Denník N."
Journalists decided to call the hotel and requested a connection to Fico's room, which the receptionist did without any issue. It was shortly after 8:30 PM local time, and no one picked up the phone. The receptionist advised the journalists to try calling later.
The Prime Minister's Office does not answer questions about Fico's whereabouts. Moreover, it hasn't issued any official statement regarding his trip to Moscow.
The leader of the opposition party Progressive Slovakia, Michal Šimečka, sarcastically noted that the Prime Minister is enjoying luxury "befitting a social democrat," thus sending a lovely New Year's message to Slovaks, who have been paying higher VAT since January, affecting price increases.
- For himself, papal travels and lifetime pensions, for the people, expensiveness and chaos. Very well, Mr. Prime Minister, we will ensure that all your disappointed voters are aware of this - said Šimečka and called on the prime minister to explain how much he is paying for such luxuries and whether his salary suffices for it.
