The Government of Slovakia has voted to change Slovakia’s whistleblower protection law and dismantle the country’s Whistleblower Protection Office (WPO).
On 22 November, the coalition government, led by Prime Minister Robert Fico, agreed to a fast-track process for a proposed law to abolish the independent Whistleblower Protection Office (WPO), known as Úrad na ochranu oznamovateľov, and significantly reduce protections for whistleblowers. Abolishing the WPO would effectively remove its leadership, namely its Chair, Zuzana Dlugošová.
The move prompted public outcry – including protests and marches – and alarm within and outside the country. Civil society nationally and globally responded swiftly, as did European bodies. Both the impact of the proposed law and the government’s decision to fast-track it through parliament are being described as a dangerous turn against transparency and the rule of law.
Media reported that representatives from the European Commission met with government officials, and a statement from the European Public Prosecutor (EPPO) raises the prospect of fresh clash with the European Union. Among the concerns raised are a significant reduction in Slovakia’s capacity to detect and prevent the misuse of EU funds, legal uncertainty for ongoing cases currently with the WPO and for anyone considering disclosing wrongdoing in future, and a weakening of oversight mechanisms designed to protect the Union’s financial interests.
The proposals were presented to Parliament on Tuesday, 25th November, and in a process that curtailed debated it passed first reading on 5th December. The bill passed through second and third reading and was adopted on 9th December. The President of Slovakia used his power to veto the law on the morning of Thursday, and it returned to parliament the same day for an extended debate. The government majority once again voted to adopt the law a second time on the morning of the 12th December 2025.
- The new law abolishes the current Whistleblower Protection Office on the 1st January 2026, resulting in the removal of its Chair and Vice-Chair without consultation or full parliamentary scrutiny of the new law or the proposed replacement organisation.
- An interim Chair will be appointed directly by the Speaker of Parliament.
- The new law requires the Prosecutor to keep the protection granted to whistleblowers under constant review, and employers will be allowed to repeatedly request a review of any decision to grant protection every six months, effectively removing legal certainty for whistleblowers
The WPO recently fined the Minister of Interior, Matúš Šutaj Eštok, for unlawfully reassigning three police officers who had blown the whistle on corruption investigations. This was the second time the Minister was sanctioned, having suspended several police officers after they had been granted whistleblower protection without consulting the WPO last year. The new law was proposed by the Ministry of Interior.
Anna Myers, Executive Director of Whistleblowing International Network, said: “All of these experts agree that strong and credible protection against corruption is a foundation of the rule of law, and that this move to abolish the Whistleblower Protection Office will have a seriously negative impact on the economic, political, and social well-being of the country and the people of Slovakia… Whistleblower protection is not just a minor addition to a country’s democratic infrastructure; it is a cornerstone of democratic accountability”.
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