On 16 April, Slovakia’s Parliament adopted a law through a fast-track procedure that defines non-governmental organisations as lobbyists. It requires those with an annual income exceeding EUR 35,000 to disclose their funding sources and identify major donors who contributed more than EUR 5,000 within a year. Non-compliance will be punished with fines and potential dissolution. Prime Minister Robert Fico stated that the law will increase transparency, while rights organisations argue the law restricts civil society and silences criticism. In a letter addressed to the Slovak Parliament, the Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner said that the law sends ‘a worrying signal about the health of the rule of law and democracy’ in Slovakia. As part of ongoing protests that began in December 2024, thousands of people protested against the law, criticizing it for resembling Russia’s foreign agent legislation. The law was signed by President Peter Pellegrini on 7 May. 

Sources : Deutsche Welle, Article 19, Euronews, Pravda, SME, Politico, Council of Europe 

On 7 February, large crowds took to the streets of Slovakia, with over 42,000 protesters gathering in Bratislava, and called for Prime Minister Robert Fico’s resignation due to his alleged pro-Russian stance. The nearly weekly protests started on 23 December 2024, following Fico’s visit to Moscow, as one of the few European leaders to visit Russia after the invasion of Ukraine. The protests intensified in January, with over 100,000 protesters across Slovakia on 24 January. The protesters have been criticizing Fico’s ties to Russia, his verbal attacks on Ukraine and have been accusing him of undermining national and EU institutions. The protests are the largest in Slovakia since 2018, when tens of thousands of people demonstrated in response to the death of an investigative journalist.   

Sources: Al Jazeera, MSN, France 24, Nový Čas, The Straits Times, British Broadcasting Company   

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