Slovakia’s rule of law may suffer further setbacks

Significance

Following the attempt on Prime Minister Robert Fico’s life in May, his administration quickly capitalised on public shock and sympathy to fast-track a series of controversial reforms that had been in the legislative pipeline, many of which have led to greater vigilance in Brussels.

Impacts

• The government may seek to edge out supreme court judges.
• Fico may bide his time in the hope that his allies will secure power in Austria and Czechia, widening his circle of friends in the EU.
• Animosity in the ruling coalition between Hlas-SD and the Slovak National Party may grow.