What Slovakia is writing about: Part of the judges amendment is unconstitutional. Prosecutors stood up for Žilinka against Fico

On Wednesday, the Constitutional Court ruled that parts of the government's amendment on the disciplinary panels of the Supreme Administrative Court were inconsistent with the constitution. On the same day, prosecutors and lawyers pushed back against Prime Minister Robert Fico's Tuesday call for Prosecutor General Maroš Žilinka to resign, and it emerged that the prosecutor's office had dropped the charge against government commissioner Peter Kotlár. Pravda ↗

Alongside this, the government dismissed Lukáš Machala from the Ministry of Culture, approved a plan to buy four more F-16 fighter jets, and the Defense Ministry is looking for a contractor for a hospital worth 922 million euros. The Slovak National Party, meanwhile, backed away from its threat not to open the September parliamentary session.

Constitutional Court declares part of government's judges amendment unconstitutional

Parliament passed the amendment in September 2025, and a group of opposition MPs challenged it before the Constitutional Court. The ruling concerns the rules governing the establishment and operation of the disciplinary panels of the Supreme Administrative Court. These panels decide on the disciplinary liability of judges, prosecutors, and bailiffs. TASR ↗

The judges' association Za otvorenú justíciu (For Open Justice) called on the coalition and the Judicial Council not to interfere with the constitutional powers of the courts, and described the ruling as confirmation that the amendment had been intended to weaken judicial power. Hospodárske noviny ↗

Different outlets framed the same verdict differently. Hospodárske noviny emphasized that the court did not challenge the entire amendment and that part of the changes remained in force. Hospodárske noviny ↗ Nový Čas summed it up as a political defeat for the government, with a headline saying the opposition can rejoice while Fico can rage. Nový Čas ↗ The public broadcaster stuck to a procedural description and added reactions from the opposition parties Freedom and Solidarity and Progressive Slovakia, which welcomed the verdict. STVR ↗

The Justice Ministry announced that it would provide a comprehensive statement only after receiving the written ruling. TASR ↗

Fico demands prosecutor's resignation, while his office drops charge against government commissioner

The Prime Minister already called on Žilinka to resign on Tuesday, claiming that in the case of former Slovak Information Service chief Vladimír Pčolinský, evidence favorable to him had been concealed, and threatened a reform of the prosecution service if the Prosecutor General did not step down. Pravda ↗ Žilinka rejected this, saying he could perceive it as a threat and that it amounted to creating pressure. Pravda ↗ On the ta3 television channel, he added that a prosecutor cannot be like a monkey on a rubber band, and warned against a reform driven by ulterior motives. ta3 ↗

This is where coverage diverges the most. Denník N argues in a commentary that the attack only makes sense as preparation for replacing Žilinka. Denník N ↗ The same outlet also examined the "concealed evidence" itself and claims that in presenting it, the Prime Minister omitted mention of a bribery suspicion and a link to businessman Miroslav Výboh, who is close to Fico. Denník N ↗ Aktuality published a commentary by Martin Behul, according to whom Fico, through his nonsense, has created himself a dangerous enemy. Aktuality ↗ The Czech daily iDNES noted that the prosecutor, whose appointment Smer once supported, has become independent. iDNES ↗

Professional organizations also spoke out against the Prime Minister. The Council of Prosecutors rejected political purges and pressure, while the Slovak Bar Association described the pressure on the Prosecutor General as a threat to the rule of law. Aktuality ↗ SITA ↗

On the same day, news emerged of another decision by the same institution. The General Prosecutor's Office dropped the charge of spreading alarming information against Peter Kotlár, the government commissioner for investigating the pandemic, who claims that vaccines alter people's DNA. According to the office's spokesperson, the decision was made by the First Deputy, acting on behalf of the Prosecutor General, as early as September 2, due to serious material and formal legal shortcomings in the resolution, with one of the criminal complaints against him having been filed by the opposition party SaS. SME ↗

The coalition, moreover, is not unified. Investment Minister Samuel Migaľ said that, in his view, Žilinka still has the government's trust. Zoznam ↗

Raši announces session for September 15, Taraba's departure remains open

Parliament Speaker Richard Raši announced that the September session will start as planned, with MPs set to work through more than three hundred agenda items. Aktuality ↗

Just a week earlier, there had been a threat that the Slovak National Party would not open the session. According to Markíza television, the party has backed away from blocking it and expects the Prime Minister to deliver a written proposal to the president on September 15 to dismiss Environment Minister Tomáš Taraba. This was confirmed by the ministry's State Secretary Filip Kuffa, whose nomination for Taraba's post was, however, criticized by the president, who said Slovakia has more capable experts. Markíza ↗

The daily Pravda points out that the coalition is postponing its decision on both Taraba and changes to the transaction tax, while Štandard notes that Taraba has a normal work schedule planned for September 15. Pravda ↗ Štandard ↗

State money: four fighter jets, a 922-million hospital, and a message from the fiscal council

The government approved a plan to procure four more F-16 fighter jets, and Kaliňák is expected to sign the contracts by the end of the year. Hospodárske noviny cites an estimate of 390 million euros excluding value-added tax and customs duties, and quotes MP Tomáš Valášek of Progressive Slovakia, who says the sum is understated. Hospodárske noviny ↗ The Christian Democratic Movement is asking the minister to explain why the purchase is a priority and what it will mean for the army's other goals. SITA ↗

In recent days, the Defense Ministry also launched a public tender for a new hospital in Bratislava's Vajnory district. The estimated value of the contract is 922 million euros excluding value-added tax. Hospodárske noviny ↗

On top of that, the Office of the Council for Budget Responsibility reminded the government that it is obliged to submit a balanced budget and that Slovakia's public debt remains in the highest sanction band. Hospodárske noviny ↗ Coalition MPs attacked the council at a committee meeting, objecting to its statements about the government violating the constitution. Aktuality ↗

Machala leaves Culture Ministry, Milanová links his departure to subsidies for the rainbow pride march

Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová proposed the dismissal of her longtime ally Lukáš Machala from the post of Secretary General of the service office, and the government approved the proposal. It appointed Ivan Gašpar in his place. As the official reason, it cited the need for a different management setup and greater trust in the office's leadership. Refresher ↗

The real reason is a matter of dispute, not a confirmed fact. According to former Culture Minister Natália Milanová, the relationship may have been damaged by subsidies for the Pride and Inakosť (Otherness) events, which Šimkovičová herself signed and which Machala failed to prevent. The ministry has not officially confirmed this version. Refresher ↗ In an interview for Štandard, the minister claims that an expert commission decided on the subsidy for the rainbow pride march and that nothing could be done about it after the fact. Štandard ↗

Assessments also differ. Political scientist Miroslav Řádek told ta3 that the government pinned the entire political burden on Machala, and that, in his view, the minister is staying in part because her potential return to parliament would strain the coalition's narrow majority. ta3 ↗ A commentary in the daily SME warns that celebrating his departure is premature, since the ministry will still be run by the minister. SME ↗ The Otvorená Kultúra (Open Culture) platform and the opposition are also demanding Šimkovičová's departure. SITA ↗ The Czech outlet Novinky summed up the whole story for its readers simply as the end of a flat-earther at a Slovak ministry. Novinky ↗

Under the radar

The government approved the statute of the National Commission for Water and Drought, which the Prime Minister is set to chair. The Union of Towns of Slovakia is unhappy that it has no representation on the commission, and the opposition says concrete measures are missing. Hospodárske noviny ↗ Denník N noted that the government is only starting to address drought once summer is already over. Denník N ↗

The commission tasked with resolving the dispute over the ambulance service tender held a meeting. Denník N noted that it includes people from Penta, Agel, and from Marián Soták's circle. Denník N ↗

The Environment Ministry hastily postponed a call for family home renovations, and according to the daily SME, Taraba's explanation clashes with reality. SME ↗

After twenty-two years, Slovakia reopened its embassy in Algeria. Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár also spoke about gas imports as a possible replacement for Russian gas. Aktuality ↗

What hotinfo is watching