“Night as thieves”, Bratislava version. Slovak MPs clashed violently as parliament reviewed legislation on whistleblowers and witnesses. “A massacre of the rule of law”
View of Bratislava Castle, the current seat of the Slovak parliament Bratislava. Photo source: Marc Schueler / imago stock&people / Profimedia
Slovakia's parliament passed a law on whistleblowers and key witnesses, which the opposition warned threatened the rule of law, leading to angry exchanges and even fights between politicians on Thursday night and Friday, Reuters reports.
The European Commission has expressed its concern about the changes proposed by the pro-Russian government of Prime Minister Robert Fico and supported by left-wing nationalist parliamentarians, writes News.ro.
Video footage posted by a lawmaker shows opposition politicians whistling and booing and heated arguments during Thursday night's vote on changes to criminal codes, including the status of whistleblowers.
A government deputy threw a plastic bottle at an opponent, and the Dennik N news site reported that journalists heard another deputy shouting that he was being held by the throat in a scuffle.
Slovakia's parliament passed a law on whistleblowers and crown witnesses despite strong protests from the opposition, which led to scuffles and angry exchanges between lawmakers. pic.twitter.com/vMZhy2tND7
— DW News (@dwnews) December 12, 2025
On Friday, MPs returned to the benches and ruling parties approved a reorganization of the national whistleblower office, even though President Peter Pellegrini opposed the law a day ago, saying it risked stopping EU subsidies and should not be rushed through.
The Fico government, in power since 2023, previously took measures to weaken the punishment of financial crimes, reorganized public broadcasting and promoted constitutional amendments that affirm national sovereignty over some EU laws.
The government claims that the current whistleblower agency, the UOO, has been used politically in the past – the same reasoning that Fico used for previous legislative changes.
Ve slovenském parlamentu nuda néi.
(via @zomriofficial) pic.twitter.com/BNcWNKW9Lm— Posledniskaut™ (@Posledniskaut) December 11, 2025
The European Commission said on Friday it regretted that Slovakia's parliament had not allowed a thorough consultation after the Commission had previously expressed “deep concern” about the law.
“This relates in particular to the dissolution of the current Bureau for the Protection of Whistleblowers and the early termination of the mandate of the head of the Bureau,” the Commission said in an emailed response. “The commission will now analyze the law and decide on the next appropriate measures,” Brussels said.
The ruling parties stated that the concerns were addressed by making changes, although the leadership change remained.
“Night of the Mafia”
Slovakia has become even more politically tense since Fico – a four-time prime minister – returned to power in this country of 5.4 million inhabitants.
He survived a gun attack in May 2024 by a man unhappy with his policies, including the withdrawal of military aid to Ukraine.
The opposition says the whistleblower bill is “revenge” after the UOO fined the Interior Ministry in cases involving police officers who were transferred during corruption investigations without the Bureau's consent.
Separate amendments to the Criminal Code, adopted as an emergency on Thursday evening, tightened the rules regarding the testimony of “key witnesses”.
Critics say these provisions will help an important Fico ally who is currently under investigation.
Michal Simecka, the leader of the largest opposition party, Progressive Slovakia, called the parliamentary session “the night of the mafia”.
“We are witnessing a massacre of the rule of law in Slovakia,” he said in a statement.
