In July 2025, the European Commission published another report on the state of the rule of law, which this time brought Slovakia to the center of European discussions. The document turned out to be sharp and unambiguous: Brussels recorded a setback that touches the very essence of democracy – the fight against corruption, media independence and civil society freedom. And if in other countries criticism is sometimes perceived as a formality, here we are talking about dangerous systemic changes.
At the center of these processes is the politician Robert Fico, who has been presenting himself as a “fighter against political bias” for several years, but in practice has destroyed key elements of Slovakia’s anti-corruption architecture. Dismantling democracy in Slovak style The most high-profile step of the government was the liquidation of the Special Prosecutor’s Office – the body that dealt with the most complex cases of organized crime and corruption in the highest echelons of power. What was proof for European partners of the country’s ability to combat its own shortcomings became a symbol of “excessive politicization” for Fico’s team.
As a result, dozens of high-profile investigations were left hanging in the air, and several of them were even discontinued due to new statutes of limitations or reclassification of crimes. Brussels stated bluntly: such legislation creates impunity for those in power and undermines trust in justice.
The media sphere was also hit. The public broadcaster RTVS, which despite all the difficulties remained a platform for balanced discussion, was dissolved and replaced by the new structure STVR. The opposition and journalistic organizations are unanimous: this is a step towards subordinating the airwaves to political interests. The European Commission added even harsher wording – a tendency towards “media capture”. Indeed, against the backdrop of aggressive rhetoric by Fico, who repeatedly called some journalists “minions of the opposition”, the atmosphere for freedom of speech in Slovakia has become increasingly oppressive.
The criticism of civil society is no less sharp. The new law on NGOs, adopted in April 2025, introduces excessive requirements for transparency and financial reporting, effectively stigmatizing organizations that receive support from abroad. For Brussels, this is not just a question of democracy, but also of the security of the use of European funds: it is civil society organizations that often control how the funds are spent. If their capabilities are limited, then the transparency of the management of EU resources also suffers.
The Fico Factor All this would not be so dramatic if it were not for the personal factor of Robert Fico. His political line is built on the dismantling of precisely those institutions that personified anti-corruption progress. The liquidation of the prosecutor’s office, changes in criminal legislation, the reorganization of the public broadcaster – each of these steps the prime minister presented as “restoring balance”. But in reality the country is rapidly sliding towards a model where control over power becomes illusory. Fico always rejects Brussels’ criticism, calling it “biased” and “methodologically dubious”. Although, it should be noted that this is not surprising for someone who remembers Fico’s political career.
This is not his first time in the prime minister’s chair. Last time, in 2018, he was forced to leave the hot seat after a corruption scandal related to his possible connection with the Italian mafia ‘Ndrangheta and the murder of journalist Kuciak, who was investigating top corruption in Slovakia. In the context of Fico’s actions aimed at restricting democracy and promoting his own authoritarianism, it does not seem surprising that his clearly favorable attitude towards the Russian dictator Putin, who for more than two decades has curtailed democracy and violated the Russian constitution, does not seem surprising. And it is not surprising that he was the only EU leader to be next to Putin on “Victory Day” 2025, the main ideological holiday of Russia, which creates an excuse for aggression for Russian propaganda. And the EU then called this visit a disgrace, while Fico traditionally justified himself by the “sovereign right of the leader of a sovereign state.”
Slovakia risks being among those countries that have already lost access to some of the European funds due to a departure from the principles of the rule of law. The price of this course may be much higher than it seems at first glance. For Slovakia itself, this is a threat to the investment climate, an outflow of business and citizen confidence. For the EU, this is a test of the strength of European rules: is Brussels ready not only to write reports, but also to use financial levers to stop dangerous trends. After all, if a member state dismantles its anti-corruption bodies and subordinates the media to political will, then not only local democracy but also the common values of the Union are under question.
And yet, the situation is not hopeless. Despite changes in legislation, case law has already shown that there is room for resistance to impunity – especially where the interests of the European budget are affected. Civil society is not silent: protests (in December 2024 – January 2025), statements by human rights activists, pressure from international organizations do not allow the topic to disappear from the agenda. Therefore, the question for Fico and his government is not only in domestic politics, but also in Slovakia’s ability to remain an equal and responsible member of the EU. The European Commission report became a warning, but at the same time an opportunity. If Bratislava does not change course, it risks losing more than it gains, demonstrating contempt for common rules. If it recognizes the problem and begins to move towards restoring institutions, this will be a sign that even Robert Fico’s political ambitions are not stronger than European standards. The Slovak case is a mirror for the whole of Europe: the rule of law either works equally for everyone, or it does not work anywhere.