SVK Armed Forces are strictly apolitical by law, referendum boxes were carried by Presidential GOH under remit of Presidential Military Office

In response to the footage showing soldiers carrying boxes with signatures to initiate a referendum on early elections, the Ministry of Defence emphasises that the SVK Armed Forces are required to be strictly apolitical by law. The soldiers shown in the footage were members of the SVK Presidential Guard of Honour (GOH), which falls under the remit of the Military Office of the President of the Slovak Republic.

Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “Indeed, I would be displeased if soldiers were linked to any activity supporting a political party. However, I must set things right, because the SVK Presidential Guard of Honour does not fall under the remit of the SVK Armed Forces in terms of personnel or decision-making, but rather under the remit of the Presidential Military Office. So, the Ministry of Defence neither made any decision about it, nor played any role in it.”

Under current legislation, the Military Office of the President of the Slovak Republic, working in close cooperation with the GOH, delivers tasks in support of the President's duties and responsibilities as the Commander-in-Chief of the SVK Armed Forces.