Slovakia's Judicial Council Condemns Verbal Attacks on Judges, Criticizes Prime Minister Fico

Slovakia's Judicial Council adopted a resolution condemning verbal attacks on judges, specifically criticizing Prime Minister Robert Fico for what it called political marketing and suggesting Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok should not even be trusted to guard corn. The Judicial Council, which oversees the administration and independence of Slovakia's court system, took the unusual step of publicly responding to what it characterized as inappropriate political rhetoric targeting the judiciary. The resolution reflects growing tensions between Slovakia's government and judicial institutions, as Fico's ruling Smer-SD party has frequently clashed with courts over various legal proceedings. Such public disputes between the executive and judicial branches raise concerns about judicial independence, a key principle in democratic governance and an area closely monitored by European Union institutions.