Snap elections in the air … everywhere I look around (Zeitgeist 14.)

Although the snap elections have not been called yet, in the streets of Slovakia and on the TV screens, the electoral campaign is already happening. Recent months have seen increased scrutiny of Slovakia’s government and its adherence to democratic principles, and the Prime Minister Fico is throwing various smokescreens to change the topic from real issues.

The European Commission’s Rule of Law Report identified backsliding in critical areas, while the European Parliament raised concerns about shrinking civic space. Controversial amendments to electoral laws threaten to undermine fair competition, and a major ambulance tender was cancelled amid allegations of corruption. Prime Minister Fico’s government has also faced criticism for promoting conspiracy theories, including a failed coup narrative and accusations of foreign interference in elections. President Pellegrini’s campaign finances are under investigation, adding another layer of concern. Lastly, attacks on the Constitutional Court continue to damage judicial independence, and recent amendments to the criminal code have been found to benefit thousands of accused and convicted individuals.

Rule of law report 2025 is out

The European Commission released a report on the state of the rule of law in Slovakia, revealing a lack of any progress in five out of seven areas. Minister of Justice Boris Susko dismissed the Commission’s evaluations as biased, claiming they target past administrations. The report underscores concerns regarding the independence of the Judicial Council and the lack of effective investigations into high-level corruption cases. The Justice Minister has not taken action to address the Commission’s recommendations from last year. The Commission also criticizes the handling of the criminal offense of „abuse of law,“ which the current government has not addressed despite opportunities. A significant number of criminal prosecutions were halted due to statute of limitations or reclassification, including high-profile corruption cases.

The Commission expressed concerns about the abolition of the National Crime Investigation Agency (NAKA) and the Special Prosecutor’s Office (ÚŠP), which led to delays in investigations and a drop in corruption cases. Furthermore, it conveyed a concern about curbing the civic space through the adoption of a law restricting fundamental rights. It did acknowledge a slight improvement in legislation regarding conflicts of interest and safeguards related to the criminal liability of judges. The Commission prepares its state of rule of law reports through consultations with state officials, judicial bodies, and non-governmental organizations, relying on verified data. 

Just a few days after RoL report, a monitoring group of the European Parliament reported that the rule of law in Slovakia is deteriorating. Their report found that public space freedoms are being restricted and that civil society is endangered, partly due to the law against NGOs. The EP’s findings are based on interviews conducted in Slovakia with over 20 stakeholders, including government, opposition, media, and judiciary representatives. Key problems identified by the EP include the abolishment of the ÚŠP and NAKA, weakening the fight against organized crime. Reduced sentences and statute of limitations for economic crimes have aided defendants, and politicians‘ attacks on judges undermine judicial decisions. The EP report conveys concerns about the law endangering the existence of non-governmental organizations. Prime Minister Robert Fico responded emotionally to criticism of this law.

Amendments to the Electoral laws in the process

The Ministry of Interior has proposed a bill that would significantly alter the conditions for political parties to receive state contributions for their election outcomes. This bill aims to increase the threshold for obtaining state contributions from 3% to 5% of the total votes cast. The proposal also seeks to dramatically increase the election deposit for parliamentary elections from €17,000 to €50,000, and for European Parliament elections from €1,700 to €25,000.

These changes would severely distort the level playing field in political competition by making it difficult for smaller or new political projects to access campaign financing. Raising the election deposit could exclude smaller or new parties from political competition and create barriers for new political parties. This bill could violate the Slovak Constitution, since the Constitutional Court previously stated that election deposits should not exceed 25 times the average wage. A collective objection to the bill was signed by over 2,500 people in 3 days.

The largest tender in healthcare halted

A €2 billion ambulance public procurement call in Slovakia, intended to select the country’s ambulance network operators for six years, has been cancelled due to concerns over secrecy and alleged favouritism. The competition, the largest in Slovak healthcare history, faced criticism from opposition parties, nurses, doctors, and watchdog groups, who deemed the process non-transparent and tailored to benefit specific bidders. Allegations arose that some bidders had advance knowledge of the winning bid, prompting suspicions due to significant investments in new ambulance cars.

Health Minister Kamil Šaško cancelled the competition, citing legal and transparency issues, despite initial insistence that the process was proper. Prime Minister Robert Fico has also declared the tender „over“. The Public Procurement Office (ÚVO) found the tender rules incompatible with EU law, and figures involved had ties to the Hlas party, founded by current President Peter Pellegrini. The ministry’s refusal to disclose selection committee details and the chair’s lack of experience in emergency services fuelled further criticism. Opposition parties claim that one competitor was positioned to secure a significant share of ambulance stations, guaranteeing substantial profits. Following the cancellation, the head of the Emergency Medical Services Operational Centre resigned, and the tender’s legality is under review. Despite the cancellation, the opposition maintains that the tender’s results remain binding, suggesting potential lawsuits from involved parties. 

Remember Fico’s conspiracy on the coup d’état?

Fico’s government has failed to explain how Mamuka Mamulashvili, whom they previously identified as a coup plotter, entered Slovakia undetected. In January, Fico and other top officials warned of Mamulashvili’s alleged plot to overthrow the constitutional order. However, Mamulashvili was recently spotted in Bratislava, filming an interview with a journalist, without any intervention from authorities.

The opposition has accused Fico’s government of spreading disinformation and fear. Fico’s office directed journalists to the Interior Ministry, which has accused „activist journalists“ of spreading conspiracies. Justice Minister Boris Susko maintains that the intelligence in January was serious. The Slovak Information Service has dismissed much of the reporting as „speculation“. The situation raises questions about either a massive security lapse or the government’s credibility regarding the alleged coup plot.

Mamuka Mamulašvili in front of the Slovak Government Office. Photo: Tomáš Forró

Prime Minister accuses UK government of meddling with the 2023 election

Prime Minister Robert Fico has criticized the United Kingdom for allegedly interfering in Slovakia’s 2023 elections by funding activities to “damage Smer and help Progresívne Slovensko.“ Fico’s claims reference a report indicating the UK’s FCDO contracted Zinc Network to increase civic participation in central and eastern Europe, but it did not allege explicit support or opposition to any party. The British government denied the allegations. Opposition parties dismissed the allegations as a distraction from domestic issues and fear-mongering tactics.

Slovak police have launched an investigation into possible foreign interference. Influencers were paid for a campaign in favor of voting, and not in support of any political party, according to the journalist who authored the investigation. One civil society group that received funds from the Zinc agency had done so to promote voter advice, a common tool utilized throughout the EU. As such, the civil society group expressed disbelief that their activities could be labeled as political manipulation. Opposition parties condemned Fico, stating his claims damage relations with key European partners.

President Peter Pellegrini has criticized alleged UK meddling in Slovakia’s 2023 elections, stating that Slovakia’s elections are „not a problem for another state to solve“. Pellegrini questioned whether secretly spending public funds to influence elections in an allied country risks damaging the trust of allied countries. 

President Pellegrini’s campaign returns as a boomerang

The Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Bratislava is investigating Peter Pellegrini’s presidential campaign and a loan from his sister, prompted by a complaint filed by the Demokrati party. The party Demokrati filed the complaint due to a connection between the financing, the loan, and the explanations given by the Minister of the Interior. Inconsistencies surrounding Pellegrini’s campaign were continuing to accumulate.

Matúš Šutaj Eštok admitted to a deliberate crime when he stated that the party did not report the 300,000 EUR from Peter Pellegrini’s sister to avoid ridicule. HLAS-SD initially concealed the loan from Pellegrini’s sister, and is now being investigated. Eduard Burda, the head of the State Commission for Elections and Financing of Political Parties, confirmed that they received a complaint regarding the concealed loan. HLAS-SD may face a fine of 5,000 EUR for failing to publish information about the loan from the sister of its former chairman.

Fico attacks the Constitutional Court, again

Prime Minister Robert Fico has launched another attack on the Constitutional Court, questioning why foreign ambassadors visit the institution. Fico suggested that ambassadors from France, the UK, or the Netherlands interfered with the Constitutional Court’s independence regarding the law against NGOs.  As a four-time prime minister, Fico knows diplomats routinely visit important state institutions. He is spreading a fabricated story about judges being influenced by foreign ambassadors, which undermines the justice system’s independence. This is not Fico’s first attack on the Constitutional Court; he has previously accused it of coordinating decisions with the Presidential Palace, and he verbally attacked the President of the Constitutional Court, who was forced to step down in March 2024. The French embassy and the Slovak Bar Association have strongly condemned Fico’s false claims.

Numbers on the amendment of the Criminal code from February 2024

A new analysis by the Foundation Zastavme korupciu reveals that the amendment to the penal code, pushed through by Robert Fico’s government in February 2024, benefited over 3,000 accused or convicted individuals in its first year. The analysis states that 446 criminals were released from prison, and 289 people had charges dropped due to the statute of limitations. The number of people charged with bribery has significantly decreased, from 129 last year to only 13 this year. The analysis shows that 853 people had their prosecutions halted, as their crimes were downgraded to misdemeanors. The analysis confirms that ignoring a proper vetting process for legislation leads to mistakes, necessitating repeated revisions, and contributing to the release of criminals and a sharp drop in corruption prosecutions.