Slovakia is no longer just backsliding—it is actively dismantling its democratic foundations, warns Via Iuris. The country has been placed among the EU’s worst offenders for the rule of law, alongside Hungary, as Prime Minister Robert Fico’s government accelerates attacks on judicial independence, media freedom, and civil society. A controversial overhaul of the Criminal Code has crippled anti-corruption efforts, while state-controlled media and legislative shortcuts are eroding checks and balances. Meanwhile, NGOs face government-led smear campaigns and restrictive new laws designed to curb their influence. According to Via Iuris director Katarína Batková, 2024 has brought the “breakdown of the fundamental pillars of the rule of law and democracy.”Via Iuris warns that Slovakia is now in crisis mode, with its institutions under siege and its democratic future uncertain.
Via Iuris, a Slovak civil society organisation advocating for democratic participation and the rule of law, has issued a stark warning about the rapid decline of Slovakia’s democratic institutions. Their latest critique, drawing on findings from the Civil Liberties Union for Europe, places Slovakia in the category of “Dismantlers”—governments that actively undermine the rule of law across multiple dimensions. The report serves as a key document for the European Commission’s evaluation of legal and democratic standards within EU member states.
Systematic Destruction of the Rule of Law
The report highlights the Slovak government’s systematic efforts to erode institutional safeguards. In 2024, Prime Minister Robert Fico’s administration introduced a series of legal and political manoeuvres that weakened the judiciary, obstructed anti-corruption measures, and threatened democratic governance. According to Via Iuris director Katarína Batková, “In 2024, Slovakia witnessed the breakdown of the fundamental pillars of the rule of law and democracy… It is no surprise that we are now ranked alongside Hungary.”
Slovakia now stands alongside Italy, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Romania in the “Dismantlers” category. The report identifies the following key areas of concern:
• Attacks on the Judiciary: Judges have faced increasing pressure and public attacks from government officials, undermining their independence.
• Weakening Anti-Corruption Protections: The amendment to the Criminal Code has significantly reduced legal safeguards against corruption, hindering efforts to prosecute financial crimes and political malfeasance.
• Undermining Media Freedom: The government has expanded control over public broadcaster RTVS, restricting journalistic independence. Attacks on independent media outlets and journalists have escalated.
• Erosion of Institutional Checks and Balances: Standard legislative procedures have been routinely bypassed, allowing the government to implement key legal changes without sufficient debate or oversight.
• Failure to Uphold Human Rights Commitments: The Slovak government has disregarded its obligations in areas such as civil liberties, minority rights, and legal protections for vulnerable groups.
Government-Led Assault on Civil Society
Via Iuris warns that the Slovak government has intensified efforts to suppress civil society. The administration has proposed legislation aimed at restricting NGOs, including:
• A law requiring organisations to be labelled based on their funding sources.
• New regulations on lobbying, limiting the ability of NGOs to advocate for policy changes.
• Plans to eliminate the 2% tax designation mechanism, a key funding source for non-profits.
Beyond legislative measures, the report highlights an ongoing smear campaign against civil society organisations. Government figures have actively portrayed NGOs as foreign agents and political adversaries, attempting to delegitimise their role in democratic oversight.
Slovakia’s Rule of Law in Crisis
The report presents a comprehensive picture of Slovakia’s deteriorating democratic landscape, warning that the country is experiencing a systemic breakdown of legal and institutional norms. The combination of judicial interference, legislative overreach, media suppression, and attacks on civil society places Slovakia among the EU’s most concerning cases of democratic backsliding.
