Slovakia - March 2024

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