On 8 August, the Government announced that the National Crime Agency (NAKA) will be dismantled, effective 31 August. NAKA, an elite police unit tasked with investigating serious crimes, part of which involves cases of high-level corruption, terrorism and organized crime, was also a partner of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and of the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO). The Government justifies the decision as part of a broader reform of the Criminal Code, which has received approval from the Constitutional Court and also resulted in the dissolution of the Special Prosecutor’s Office. The Government argues that this change is necessary to improve police efficiency in addressing crime, including high-level corruption. NAKA will be replaced by the Office for the Fight Against Organised Crime (ÚBOK), which will redistribute around 700 specially trained police officers to various regional and local districts across the country. The 2024 EU Rule of Law Report on Slovakia (published in July) highlighted the disbandment of NAKA, noting that fewer corruption cases will be handled by this new unit, while more cases will be transferred to lower-level district police directorates.

Sources: Aktuality, The Slovak Spectator, OCCRP,International IDEA (1), International IDEA (2), International IDEA (3), Dennikn, Euractiv, European Commission

On 27 June, Parliament passed the "Lex Assassination," which the ruling coalition claims aims to enhance security following the assassination attempt on Prime Minister Robert Fico. Key measures include new rules for disallowing public gatherings that could impact privacy or that raise the risks of clashes among competing events. New measures also include restrictions on gatherings close to residences of individuals related to the gathering's purpose and a host of new allowances for certain officials. Former Justice Minister and opposition MP Mária Kolíková warned the law could lead to a "police state". Amnesty International said the aim is to crack down on the right to peaceful assembly. The law was signed by President Peter Pellegrini on 8 July and took effect on 15 July. 

Sources: Aktuality, Amnesty International, Euractiv, Radio Slovakia International (1), Radio Slovakia International (2), International IDEA

On 3 July, the Constitutional Court ruled that key provisions of a controversial penal code amendment approved by Parliament in February are legal. The legislation was set to take effect in March, but then-President Zuzana Čaputová and opposition parties requested a constitutional review of the reform. This legislation sparked protests across Slovakia, while the ruling coalition expedited the changes by skipping standard review procedures and restricting parliamentary debate.  Among the provisions deemed constitutionally valid are the abolition of the Special Prosecutor’s Office, which handled cases of organized crime, corruption, and extremism; a reduction in sentences for serious crimes; and shortened statutes of limitations. Opposition parties criticized the reform and the European Commission warned of possible financial repercussions. On 16 July, amid concerns about losing access to EU funds, the Parliament tweaked the Criminal Code, approving harsher penalties for crimes involving EU funding.

Sources: Constitutional Court of Slovakia, Politico, International IDEA, European Interest, Euractiv, European Commission

On 20 June, the Parliament approved a law to abolish the current public media broadcaster, Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS), and replace it with Slovak Television and Radio (STVR). Opposition MPs boycotted the vote. Prime Minister Robert Fico claimed the changes were needed due to RTVS's “political bias and conflict with the government.” The law, first introduced in March, sparked protests and concerns over media independence from journalists, media freedom organizations, then-President Zuzana Čaputová, and European Commission Vice-President Věra Jourová. In response, the government removed some elements of the bill, including a politically appointed council to coordinate the programming. Despite amendments, the law still permits early dismissal of the current Director-General and Supervisory Board, and grants government control over the STVR Board, violating the European Media Freedom Act. President Peter Pellegrini signed the law on 30 June, and it takes effect on 1 July.

Sources: International IDEA, Associated Press, Euractiv, Jurist, Balkan Insight, International Press Institute, European Federation of Journalists, The Slovak Spectator

On 15 May, a 71-year-old citizen, described as a poet and former security guard, shot Prime Minister Robert Fico multiple times when Fico was greeting supporters after a government meeting in Handlova. Despite being critically injured, Fico survived the shooting. The attacker has been charged with attempted premeditated murder. In a pre-trial detention statement, the shooter cited disagreements with the government policies as the motive for the attack. Politicians in Slovakia and international leaders have condemned the attack. The incident has raised concerns about the polarization of politics in Slovakia, with the interior minister criticizing media outlets and the opposition for their role in shaping public perception. This is Fico’s fourth term as prime minister.

Sources: Startitup, Aktuality (1), Aktuality (2), Deutsche Welle, Politico, Euronews (1), Euronews (2), International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, Reuters, International IDEA

Slovakia held presidential elections, with the first round on 23 March and the second round on 6 April. The nationalist-left government candidate, Peter Pellegrini won over the opposition candidate, Ivan Korčok with 53.0 per cent of the vote. The voter turnout was 61.1 per cent in the second round. The president holds limited power in Slovakia but as an ally of the incumbent government, Peter Pellegrini’s win is expected to strengthen the current Prime Minister Robert Fico’s agenda. All 11 candidates who participated in the first round of elections were men.

Sources: Reuters, State Commission for Elections, Euronews, the Slovak Spectator, International IDEA

The Slovak government, led by Prime Minister Robert Fico, has adopted a draft law that would abolish the current public media broadcaster Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS) and replace it with a new broadcaster, Slovak Television and Radio (STaR). The government would have more control over who sits on the Board and the Board would have the authority to appoint and remove the director. The primary reasons cited by the government for this change are the alleged bias towards liberal viewpoints within the current RTVS, as well as the alleged dissemination of false information and the incitement of hostility towards the government. Critics, including the opposition and international organisations like Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the European Federation of Journalists, expressed concerns over potential government influence and the impact on media freedom. Despite this, the draft law is expected to pass in June, given the government's parliamentary majority.

Sources: Reporters without borders, Politico, Slovak Spectator (1), Slovak Spectator (2), European Federation of Journalists

The Special Prosecutor’s Office in Slovakia, which oversees cases of high-level corruption, closed on 20 March following reforms to the penal code. The decision was part of reforms, proposed by the government and approved by parliament on 8 February, aimed at providing stronger protection against prosecution for judges, lowering penalties for corruption and fraud, and abolishing the Special Prosecutor’s Office. The reforms were strongly criticized and the European Parliament expressed concerns that they would threaten the integrity of judicial processes. On 28 February, the Slovak Constitutional Court halted several parts of the reform such as prosecution protection and reduced penalties, but the abolishment of the Special Prosecutor’s Office went ahead. The other reforms that were planned to take effect on 15 March are now paused, pending further deliberation.

Sources: Balkan Insight, Euractiv (1), Euractiv (2), Reuters, The Slovak Spectator, European Parliament, Constitutional Court of Slovakia, National Council of the Slovak Republic

The government approved amendments to the Whistleblower Protection Act which would remove whistleblower protections extended to police and enable the Attorney General to nullify court decisions granting whistleblower status. In addition, the proposed legislative changes would allow the whistleblower’s employer to appeal against the status. As a next step, the amendments will be put to a vote in Parliament. The new government, led by Robert Fico of the Smer-SD party, has suspended six police investigators at the National Crime Agency (NAKA), responsible for probing organized crime under previous Smer-SD governments. These investigators were given whistleblower status in October 2023 by the Special Prosecutor’s Office for a period of three years. The Interior Minister, Matúš Šutaj Eštok has claimed that the whistleblower status was granted illegally. In November, Eštok survived a no-confidence vote initiated by members of the opposition.

Sources: The Slovak Spectator (1), The Slovak Spectator (2), The Slovak Spectator (3), Euractiv (1), Euractiv (2), Aktuality

The government proposed amendments to the penal code which would dissolve the Special Prosecutor’s Office charged with overseeing high-level corruption cases and weaken penalties for crimes of corruption. Prime Minister Robert Fico has accused the body of bias against his Smer-SD party. On 12 December, thousands of people marched in Námestie Slobody (Freedom Square) in Bratislava and across the country to protest the planned reforms, and an estimated 35,000 people signed an online petition to express their resistance to the proposals. The amendments have been roundly criticized by the EU and the opposition. As a next step, the draft bill will be put to a vote in Parliament via a fast-tracked legislative process. The European Parliament will vote on a resolution in mid-January.

Sources: Renew Europe, Barron’s, The Slovak Spectator, Pravda

The populist left-wing Smer party led by former Prime Minister Robert Fico won early parliamentary elections, held on 30 September. Smer won 22.94 per cent of the vote and 42 of the 150 seats in the country’s unicameral Parliament. A total of seven parties will be represented in Parliament. Progressive Slovakia (PS) came in second place with 17.96 per cent of the vote and 32 seats, winning 61.7 per cent of the record-high overseas vote. The centre-left Hlas party, an offshoot from the Smer party, placed third with 27 seats, followed by the OL’aNO party with 16 seats. The Christian Democrat party and nationalist SNS party also returned to Parliament. Voter turnout was 68.42 per cent. The elected MPs comprise 33 women (22 per cent) and 117 men (78 per cent).

Sources: Robert Schuman Foundation, Aktuality (1), Aktuality (2), Euractiv, Politico, Statistics Office (1), Statistics Office (2), RFERL

Police arrested multiple high-ranking officials in the intelligence services on charges of organised crime, abuse of power and obstruction of justice. The directors of the Slovak Information Service and the National Security Authority are among seven people facing charges for alleged interference with the investigation of high-level corruption cases involving government officials. The officials arrested included Tibor Gašpar, who is a candidate in Robert Fico's Smer party in the upcoming elections and served as chief of police under Fico’s regime from 2012-2018. Fico has claimed the arrests represent a police coup, calling the moves political calculations to weaken his party, currently leading in the polls, in the approach to the elections scheduled for 30 September. President Zuzana Čaputová convened the Security Council for an emergency meeting, where she underscored that no coup had been executed by the police, and that Slovak security agencies continued to be operational.

Sources: Politico, SME (1), SME (2), SME (3), SME (4), DW, Balkan Insight, Aktuality, The Slovak Spectator