As the crucial April 6 second round of presidential elections approaches in Slovakia, statements by its Moscow-sympathizing prime minister, Robert Fico, are confirming his government’s reputation as Europe’s new problem child.
During a visit on Thursday to the Ministry of Justice in Bratislava, Fico made a thinly-veiled threat against judges on the country’s Supreme Court who have in the past ruled against Fico’s political colleagues and allies in criminal cases.
“My council of advisors is monitoring developments very closely regarding the decisions of the competent bodies in these cases,” Fico said. “Today we asked the minister a very simple and legitimate question: How is it possible that the body that most frequently violates human rights in Slovakia is one of the [judicial] panels of the Supreme Court?”