Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico’s government has enacted a criminal law reform that shields corrupt officials, weakens anti-corruption enforcement, and drastically reduces penalties for financial crimes. Since its implementation in January 2024, no individuals convicted of corruption have been imprisoned, and the number of convictions has fallen by more than half. By contrast, in the Czech Republic, a politician who accepts a €20,000 bribe can face up to 10 years in prison, while in Slovakia, the same sentence applies only to bribes of €650,000 or more—an unprecedented threshold that effectively decriminalises most forms of political corruption. The reform raises the bribery threshold to €650,000, meaning those accepting smaller bribes face little risk of imprisonment. In one case, a tax official who facilitated an €18 million fraud and personally received €95,000 in bribes was fined just €50,000—allowing him to retain a portion of his illicit earnings.
Meanwhile, the abolition of the Special Prosecutor’s Office has further undermined investigations into high-level corruption. The government insists the changes align with EU legal standards, but critics argue they legitimise financial crime while depriving the state of millions in lost revenue. Even the proposed shift to ‘restorative justice’ has faltered due to a lack of infrastructure, leaving nearly 2,000 offenders in legal limbo. Rather than strengthening the rule of law, the reform dismantles key safeguards, making corruption easier and its consequences negligible.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico’s government introduced a controversial criminal law reform that significantly reduces penalties for corruption-related offences and economic crimes. The reform, which took effect in January 2024, lowers prison sentences for financial crimes, raises the threshold for what constitutes a serious offence, and expands the use of restorative justice measures such as home detention and financial penalties instead of incarceration. The government justified these changes as an effort to harmonise Slovak law with EU standards, but critics argue that the new legislation weakens anti-corruption efforts, enables impunity for financial crimes, and benefits individuals facing corruption charges, many of whom are linked to the ruling party. The reform also abolished the Special Prosecutor’s Office, which was responsible for investigating high-profile corruption cases, further raising concerns about Slovakia’s commitment to the rule of law. These changes have drawn sharp criticism from the European Union, civil society organisations, and opposition parties, who warn that the new laws undermine judicial independence and Slovakia’s ability to fight corruption effectively.
According to an analysis by the Stop Corruption Foundation foundation, recent court decisions show a dramatic decline in corruption-related sentences. In one case, a tax office chief who facilitated an €18 million tax fraud and personally gained €95,000 in bribes was sentenced only to a €50,000 fine. This means he retains a profit from his crime, a situation that raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of Slovakia’s anti-corruption laws.
Investigations also reveal that many corruption cases linked to tax fraud have been halted or dismissed under the new legal framework. Fraudulent businesses have bribed tax officials to manipulate tax returns, causing millions in lost state revenue. Instead of tightening financial oversight, the government has made it easier for offenders to avoid consequences, undermining the state’s ability to combat economic crimes.
Despite government claims that the reforms bring Slovakia in line with EU legal standards, critics argue that the country now lags behind its neighbours in prosecuting corruption. In the Czech Republic, a politician who accepts a €20,000 bribe could face up to 10 years in prison, whereas in Slovakia, that sentence applies only for bribes exceeding €650,000—a threshold so high that no known corruption case has ever met it. This effectively neutralises the deterrent effect of anti-corruption laws and leaves low- and mid-level corruption unchecked.
Beyond corruption-related offences, the government has also promoted the principle of restorative justice, a model that prioritises rehabilitation over incarceration. However, Slovakia lacks the infrastructure to implement it effectively. The reform was supposed to transition 1,950 prisoners to monitored home detention, but due to a shortage of electronic monitoring bracelets and probation officers, the system has failed to function as intended. In response, the Justice Ministry was forced to adjust its own directives to keep some prisoners in jail, further exposing a lack of planning and resources.
By reducing sentences, abolishing strict financial crime provisions, and failing to establish proper restorative justice mechanisms, the new criminal code benefits offenders rather than deterring corruption. The government’s claim of harmonisation with EU law stands in stark contrast to the realities on the ground, where financial criminals face fewer consequences than ever before. Instead of strengthening the rule of law, Slovakia has created a system that grants impunity to those who exploit it.
