Slovakia’s government has sparked widespread condemnation after approving a contentious draft law targeting non-governmental organisations (NGOs), labelled by critics as a crackdown on civil society.
The legislation, set for parliamentary debate on 9 April, would impose stringent transparency rules on NGOs, drawing parallels to restrictive laws in other countries.
Proposed by ruling coalition MP Adam Lučanský, the bill seeks to classify NGOs that “influence political decisions” as lobbyists, subjecting them to administrative burdens not currently applied to actual lobbyists. Key requirements include disclosure of donors contributing over €5,000 annually and publication of personal details of governing board members.
The Slovak National Party (SNS), part of the ruling coalition, argues the measures enhance transparency. However, NGOs counter that the rules are designed to stifle dissent.
Civil society groups have announced nationwide protests on 11–12 April, branding the bill a direct threat to democratic freedoms. Via Iuris highlighted that the proposal lacks expert input, breaches constitutional rights, and conflicts with EU standards on privacy and association.
Prime Minister Robert Fico dismissed comparisons to Russian and Georgian laws, accusing protesters of fabricating grievances.
They [Slovak NGOs] no longer know what to protest about, so they invent yet another lie.
The bill follows a failed 2023 attempt to introduce a “foreign agent” law, which sought to label NGOs receiving international funding as “foreign influencers.” Widespread public backlash and EU pressure forced the government to abandon the plan.
