The European Commission formally raised concerns regarding proposed amendments to Slovakia’s constitution, championed by Prime Minister Robert Fico’s coalition.
Irish Commissioner Michael McGrath, responsible for Democracy, Justice, and the Rule of Law, reportedly warned in a letter to opposition legislator Mária Kolíková that provisions prioritising Slovak constitutional law over international commitments “raise concerns in connection with the principle of primacy of European law.”
The amendments aim to enshrine Slovak constitutional supremacy in cultural and ethical matters, explicitly targeting gender definitions to recognise “only two genders, male and female,” mirroring US President Donald Trump’s earlier policies. Fico framed this as “building the wall against progressivism,” declaring on Facebook:
I know only the union of man and woman.
Fico’s unstable coalition, holding 78 of 150 parliamentary seats, requires 90 votes for constitutional changes. Despite courting Christian Democratic (KDH) and national-oriented legislators, the government failed to secure sufficient support this week, forcing a postponement until September. Smer legislator Ján Richter confirmed only 89 pledges, lamenting that just nine of KDH’s eleven members backed the motion.
The constitutional debate unfolds against Slovakia’s escalating friction with Brussels. Since returning to power in 2023, Fico’s government—comprising Smer, Hlas, and SNS— overhauled judiciary, media, and cultural institutions, drawing EU scrutiny.
Amidst the constitutional stalemate, Fico diverted attention to NATO, provocatively comparing the alliance to “a golf club” demanding “member fees,” and asserting that “neutrality would suit Slovakia […] like Austria and Switzerland.” This echoed his Tuesday remarks criticising defence spending hikes as “absolutely absurd” while claiming arms companies “rub their hands together” like “pharmaceutical companies during Covid.”
