Smer Party Pushes for New Prosecutor General Before Slovak Elections

Smer Party Seeks Early Vote on New Prosecutor General

Smer, the ruling party in Slovakia, is pushing for a vote to elect a new Prosecutor General before upcoming parliamentary elections, a move that has drawn criticism from the opposition. Current Prosecutor General Maroš Žilinka’s seven-year term is set to expire in December 2027, coinciding with the timeframe for the next parliamentary elections, which are expected in the autumn of 2027.

Žilinka stated this week that he does not intend to step down early. However, following a recent critique of the slow pace of corruption investigations, he faced public rebuke from Robert Fico, the party leader, who accused him of engaging in political maneuvering. Erik Kaliňák, head of Fico’s advisory team, commented that Žilinka, “in his frustration, decided to harm the Slovak Republic due to unacknowledged benefits.”

Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák indicated that Smer has multiple candidates in mind for the position. When asked if Marek Para, an advisor to the prime minister and a lawyer, was a potential candidate, Kaliňák responded positively, stating, “You hit the nail on the head.” He also suggested that David Lindtner, another of the prime minister’s advisors and a lawyer, was “certainly also an excellent name.”

Fico had previously expressed uncertainty about the possibility of an early vote on a new Prosecutor General. In November of last year, he stated, “I don’t think that’s possible. I think there are some deadlines there. The election of a new Prosecutor General will probably fall under the control of the new government that comes in.”

The opposition has strongly criticized Smer’s attempt to appoint a new Prosecutor General before the elections. Michal Šipoš of the Slovakia Movement stated that Smer would do everything possible to install someone who would protect them for the next seven years. Zuzana Števulová, a member of parliament for Progressive Slovakia, argued that “any normal government would not do something like this.”

Kaliňák defended the move, asserting that a new official should always be elected before the end of a term to ensure a smooth transition into the role. This push comes amid broader concerns about the state of the fight against corruption in Slovakia and follows the recent dismantling of the Special Prosecutor’s Office, which handled major corruption cases, by Fico’s government.

Recent reports suggest a growing sense of distrust in democracy within Slovakia, as Fico and Smer campaign on a platform that includes pro-Russian rhetoric and criticism of Western support for Ukraine. The timing of this effort to replace the Prosecutor General raises questions about the government’s commitment to independent oversight and the rule of law, particularly as it relates to tackling corruption.

The move also follows a period where Žilinka publicly criticized the slow pace of corruption investigations, a statement that prompted a swift and direct response from Fico. This public clash highlights the tensions within the Slovak government regarding the prioritization and handling of corruption cases.