Fico criticised over private flight to Croatia and accompaniment by Katarina Salajova

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has found himself at the centre of public outrage after information emerged about his private trip to Croatia. The politician flew to the Adriatic coast on a private jet immediately following an official visit to Prague. According to media reports, the prime minister was accompanied by his partner, Katarina Salajova, whom the press refers to as his lover.

Opposition criticises head of government's expenses

Opposition MP Alojz Glina reacted to the incident. He published photos from the airport on Facebook, showing the departure of the plane with the prime minister on board. Glina sharply criticised Fico's lifestyle, drawing attention to the use of private aviation for leisure.

"I have flown millions of miles, but I have never once bought a business class ticket. Meanwhile, the 'chief communist' is flying on a private jet for a long weekend," the MP wrote.

According to estimates cited by Slovak media, a private flight from Bratislava to Split could cost around 13,000 euros. However, the exact amount paid for the trip, as well as details of the client and payer of the services, have not yet been disclosed publicly.

Public reaction and satire online

After the photos appeared on social media, users began to discuss the incident en masse. Public attention was drawn not only to the luxurious transport but also to the fact that the married prime minister was travelling in the company of another woman. Numerous ironic jokes appeared in the comments, including: "The problem is not that he left, but that he will return" and "A traditional Slovak family". Some internet users jokingly asked whether the prime minister's wife might have driven to Croatia.

The satirical page Zomri joined the discussion, publishing a meme with the caption: "A traditional Slovak family: the wife cooks, the mistress eats". Another community, Vivat Slovakia, mocked the contrast between the politician's holiday and the everyday difficulties of ordinary citizens, who face high fuel prices and low incomes.

Funding sources and the prime minister's stance

Criticism concerns not only the cost of the flight. Commentators recalled Fico's public rhetoric regarding traditional family values, comparing it with information about his personal life. The very fact of travelling by private jet prompted questions about the sources of funding for such a holiday.

According to Slovak media, following the wave of criticism, Robert Fico stated that he has sufficient personal income and does not see the need to report to journalists on the details of his private life.

It was previously reported that on 17 November 2025, mass protest actions against the prime minister's policies took place in Bratislava and other cities in Slovakia. On the anniversary of the 1989 Velvet Revolution, demonstrators demanded the head of government's resignation, accusing him of a pro-Russian stance and distancing the country from European values. One of the features of that protest was the so-called "Chalk Revolution", when students left political slogans and symbols on the pavements.