Police arrested former Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák, Crown Prince of Fico. The country’s former strongman is also being targeted.
Spectacular coup in Slovakia: a special police unit attacked two of the most important opposition politicians. Robert Fico, former prime minister and now leader of the largest opposition party, is formally charged; his former “crown prince”, former Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák and Fico’s deputy are even in prison. Only his parliamentary immunity protects Fico, the longest-serving prime minister (2006-2010 and 2012-2018), from prison for now.
Are the police and judiciary finally taking uncompromising action against known corruption networks, or are they being misused by the government for what Fico claims is a “revenge campaign” against the previous government? Is Fico the head of a criminal organization or the victim of abuse by the judiciary and the police? These sensitive issues put democracy and the rule of law in Slovakia through what is probably the toughest test yet.