One year after the attempted assassination of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, deep political polarization persists and, according to some leaders, has even worsened. Political scientist Juraj Marušiak of the Slovak Academy of Sciences argues that the government's accusations against the opposition are eroding democratic legitimacy. “Labeling the perpetrator as an opposition activist without any evidence... is a very dangerous trend,” Marušiak told TASR, noting that conspiracy theories are growing, with 13% of the public even questioning whether the assassination happened.
Marušiak also expressed concern over the government's increasingly hostile stance toward the media and the verbal criminalization of opposition voices. He acknowledged that some post-attack security measures—such as stricter hate speech enforcement—are justified, but questioned their real-world application. More controversially, he criticized the “lex atentát” laws for granting lifetime pensions to political leaders and restricting public gatherings, especially when those restrictions target traditional protest sites like government buildings.
Speaker of parliament Richard Raši echoed concerns about worsening division, stating, “Society has not calmed down—maybe it’s even more polarized.” He placed significant blame on the opposition for fueling distrust in democratic processes and warned that future violence cannot be ruled out. Raši called for unity and mutual respect, reminding Slovaks that the current government was democratically elected and must be treated as such.
Both commentators agree that the legacy of the assassination attempt by Juraj C., who is awaiting trial and faces a life sentence, has shifted Slovakia’s political climate. While the attack initially drew nationwide attention, it has since faded from public discourse, replaced by debates over EU relations, Russian diplomacy, and fiscal policy. Nonetheless, the deepening societal rifts it exposed remain unresolved, leaving open the possibility of further instability.
Source: TASR
