Slovakia's Public Debt Hits €84 Billion, Audit Office Warns of Risks

Slovakia's public debt has climbed to nearly €84 billion, equivalent to more than €15,500 per capita, according to a warning issued by the Supreme Audit Office (NKÚ), the country's independent state financial oversight body. The NKÚ has flagged the rising debt level as a significant risk to the country's fiscal stability. Slovakia has faced persistent budget deficit challenges in recent years, with the current government under Prime Minister Robert Fico under pressure from the European Union to bring its finances under control. The EU has placed Slovakia under an excessive deficit procedure, a formal mechanism that requires member states to reduce their budget shortfalls within set timelines or face potential financial penalties. The growing per-capita debt figure underscores the scale of the fiscal challenge facing Slovak households and future generations, and adds urgency to ongoing debates about public spending cuts and tax policy reforms.