Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is setting himself up as the nation’s moral judge with a new Code of Conduct for public officials—granting him the power to decide who is ethically fit to govern. While the Code promises transparency and integrity, in practice, it centralises control in Fico’s hands, enabling selective enforcement against political opponents while shielding allies from scrutiny. Ministers, state secretaries, and high-ranking officials will be bound to his personal assessment of their “moral conduct,” despite legal limitations on his authority. Meanwhile, the ruling coalition continues to push through laws that benefit accused politicians, suppress civil society, and restrict media access, all while disregarding public consultation and expert oversight. The government preaches high ethical standards, yet Fico openly insults political opponents, ignores transparency rules, and refuses to disclose key decisions. With enforcement mechanisms vague and legal oversight unclear, critics warn that the Code is not about morality—but about power.
The Slovak government has introduced a Code of Conduct for Public Officials, designed to establish ethical guidelines for ministers, state secretaries, advisors, and senior bureaucrats. The document, drafted by Juraj Gedra (Smer), is currently under interdepartmental review and—if adopted—would allow Prime Minister Robert Fico to personally evaluate whether public officials meet the prescribed ethical standards. If a government official loses his confidence, they may face dismissal. This grants Fico unprecedented oversight beyond his existing constitutional power to nominate and remove ministers.
Supporters of the Code argue that Slovakia has long lacked clear ethical guidelines for high-ranking officials, a gap that international organisations, including the Council of Europe and OECD, have repeatedly criticised. The new framework aims to promote transparency, integrity, and responsible governance, while also setting expectations for conflict-of-interest avoidance and respectful public conduct. However, the reality of the current government’s actions sharply contrasts with these principles.
Ethical Standards on Paper, Political Opportunism in Practice
Among the Code’s fundamental expectations is the obligation of officials to avoid conflicts of interest. In practice, however, the ruling coalition led by Smer and Hlas recently passed a Criminal Code amendment that benefitted politicians facing legal proceedings. Similarly, while the Code mandates that officials act in the public interest, the amendment resulted in a surge of shoplifting cases, leaving businesses struggling while failing to improve protections for crime victims.
The expectation that government officials should serve selflessly and responsibly is also contradicted by reality. Upon taking office, the coalition swiftly raised ministerial salaries, while party leaders engaged in power struggles over political influence. Calls for ethical conduct and dignified public discourse are similarly undermined by Fico’s own inflammatory behaviour, including public vulgarities, obscene gestures in parliament, and threats against political opponents.
The document stresses the importance of respecting public opinion, yet major legislative changes, including the Criminal Code reform, were pushed through without public consultation. Parliamentary debates have been routinely curtailed, and policymaking has become increasingly opaque. The government’s commitment to transparency is also questionable. Fico has refused to disclose details about his Moscow trip, including how he travelled and whom he met. His visit to Vietnam remains equally shrouded in secrecy.
Despite the Code’s requirement that officials provide information to the public, the Government Office regularly ignores media inquiries. This practice extends to multiple ministries, particularly those controlled by Smer and the far-right SNS, where officials often refuse to engage with critical media outlets.
The Code further mandates that officials should distance themselves from organisations conflicting with government policy, which many see as a direct attack on civil society. The Fico administration has consistently targeted NGOs, portraying them as foreign agents and demanding details on state funding allocated to these organisations. Some critics, including SaS MP Ondrej Dostál, argue that this provision could be used to limit cooperation between government officials and independent watchdog groups.
Legal, Institutional, and Political Implications
Beyond ethical concerns, the Code’s legal enforceability is uncertain. While it allows Fico to judge the conduct of ministers—whose appointments he already controls—it also seeks to extend this oversight to state secretaries, general secretaries, and political advisors. However, Slovak law does not grant the Prime Minister the power to dismiss these officials unilaterally. Appointments to key institutions, such as the National Security Office, fall under the jurisdiction of parliament, while the Antimonopoly Office and Statistical Office heads are appointed by the president.
Even within government ministries, the removal of state secretaries and general secretaries requires collective cabinet approval, making it unclear how Fico’s new authority would function in practice. Experts warn that the Code’s vague wording allows for arbitrary interpretation, further centralising power in the Prime Minister’s hands while offering no clear enforcement mechanisms.
Several government ministries have signalled their intention to submit amendments, including the Education Ministry (Tomáš Drucker, Hlas), the Interior Ministry (Matúš Šutaj Eštok, Hlas), and the Economy Ministry (Denisa Saková, Hlas). The Public Procurement Office and Antimonopoly Office have raised concerns about government overreach, stressing that political interference in independent institutions could breach European regulations.
Despite these reservations, the Code does not require parliamentary approval and can be implemented directly by the government. The public consultation process remains open until 10 March, after which the document may come into immediate effect.
A Government Preaching Values It Does Not Uphold
The introduction of the Code of Conduct has drawn attention to the discrepancy between the government’s rhetoric and its actions. It insists on open governance, yet Fico and his ministers avoid media scrutiny. It demands ethical leadership, yet the Prime Minister frequently insults political opponents and minority groups. It claims to promote decision-making based on objective facts, yet rushed legislation—such as the flawed Criminal Code reform—demonstrates a clear lack of expert consultation.
Further contradictions emerge in the government’s stance on civil discourse. The Code states that public officials should uphold dignity and respect all citizens, yet Fico has a long record of insulting journalists, minorities, and political rivals. His derogatory language towards LGBTI communities and migrants, alongside violent rhetoric against opposition leaders, directly contradicts the standards the Code seeks to enforce.
Additionally, while the Code emphasises preventing conflicts of interest and corruption, the government’s actions suggest otherwise. The recent appointment of Peter Kotlár as the government’s pandemic investigator—despite his history of spreading conspiracy theories—highlights the selective application of professional standards. Meanwhile, ministers and coalition members continue to shape legal reforms that benefit them personally, raising concerns about legal integrity.
With the deadline for public consultation approaching, it remains to be seen whether the government will amend the Code to address these concerns. However, given its history of sidelining dissenting voices and circumventing democratic processes, there is little indication that Fico’s administration will subject itself to the very ethical standards it demands from others.
Source: Nina Janešíková | Denník N
