Slovak Judges Defend Colleague Against Prime Minister's Attacks

In a significant display of solidarity, dozens of Slovak judges have rallied to defend Judge Pamela Záleská against what they perceive as unprecedented attacks from Prime Minister Robert Fico. The initiative, spearheaded by Judge Juraj Kliment of the Supreme Court, saw 60 judges from various levels of the judiciary sign a joint statement. This collective action underscores a deep concern within the Slovak judiciary regarding the independence and integrity of the courts.

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Toto nie je útok len na Pamelu Záleskú, ale na každého sudcu a sudkyňu každého súdu a celé súdnictvo. Súdna rada si tento útok nevšimla, ale my ostatní prestaňme mlčať

The judges' statement explicitly condemns Fico's actions as an "unacceptable attempt by the government to intimidate judges" and a direct assault not just on Záleská, but on the entire judicial system. They emphasize that judicial independence is a paramount value, and they will not stand idly by while it is eroded. This strong stance highlights the judiciary's commitment to upholding the rule of law against perceived executive overreach.

The controversy stems from a criminal complaint filed against Záleská by Fico, along with Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák and lawyer Marek Para. They accuse her of alleged abuse of power related to the corruption case of Dušan Kováčik. Záleská had initially convicted Kováčik in 2021, a verdict later upheld by the Supreme Court, though the sentence was reduced. However, a subsequent decision by the Supreme Court, prompted by an appeal from Justice Minister Boris Susko, overturned the previous verdicts, sending the case back to the beginning.

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Ak nebude v tomto učebnicovom príklade nezákonnosti vyvodená právna zodpovednosť voči sudkyni Špecializovaného trestného súdu Pamele Záleskej, zabudnime na akúkoľvek predstavu o právnom štáte na Slovensku. Zabudnime na to, že tu platia nejaké pravidlá

Fico has publicly framed this as a vindication, but the Supreme Court itself has declared it "unacceptable" to pursue criminal charges against judges simply because their decisions have been overturned. This statement from the highest court directly contradicts Fico's narrative and reinforces the judiciary's position that such actions are an attack on judicial independence. From a Slovak perspective, this situation is deeply concerning, as it pits the executive branch against the judiciary, raising fundamental questions about the balance of power and the future of the rule of law in the country. The international community often views such political interference with alarm, but for Slovaks, it is a direct threat to the democratic principles we hold dear.

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Za absolútne neprípustnú považuje Najvyšší súd situáciu, v ktorej len na základe toho, že súd s najvyššou prieskumnou právomocou zrušil preskúmavané rozhodnutia, sa vyvodzuje, alebo čo i len naznačuje, podozrenie z trestnej činnosti voči sudcom, ktorí toto rozhodnutie vydali