Changes

In 2002, Parliament passed legislation that created a Judicial Council. This 18-member council, composed of judges, law professors, and other legal experts, is now responsible for the nomination of judges. All judges, except those of the Constitutional Court, are appointed by the president from a list proposed by the Judicial Council. The Council also is responsible for appointing Disciplinary Senates in cases of judicial misconduct.  

In 2002, Parliament passed legislation that created a Judicial Council. This 18-member council, composed of judges, law professors, and other legal experts, is now responsible for the nomination of judges. All judges, except those of the Constitutional Court, are appointed by the president from a list proposed by the Judicial Council. The Council also is responsible for appointing Disciplinary Senates in cases of judicial misconduct.  

In the eve of the 2023 elections, [[CNBC]] reported "Fico and his party have more recently embraced socially [[conservative]], [[nationalist]] and anti-[[immigration]] rhetoric, and his stance on [[Ukraine]] has been extreme compared to his EU counterparts...That has included blaming “[[Ukrainian Nazi]]s and [[fascist]]s” for the start of the direct [[Donbas war|conflict between Ukraine and Russia in 2014]]; accusing Slovakia’s president of being a U.S. agent; describing the EU as a “war machine under the influence of the USA”, and arguing weapons deliveries to Ukraine have undermined Slovak [[sovereignty]]".<ref>[https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/29/robert-fico-slovakias-election-could-further-fracture-ukraine-support-.html A populist leader, sympathetic to Putin’s Russia, could be about to win elections in Slovakia], Jenni Reid, CNBC, SEP 29 20231</ref>  AMerican meddling failed to prevent Fico's win.<ref>[https://korybko.substack.com/p/american-meddling-failed-to-prevent American Meddling Failed To Prevent Robert Fico’s Victory In The Latest Slovak Elections], ANDREW KORYBKO, OCT 1, 2023</ref>

In the eve of the 2023 elections, [[CNBC]] reported "Fico and his party have more recently embraced socially [[conservative]], [[nationalist]] and anti-[[immigration]] rhetoric, and his stance on [[Ukraine]] has been extreme compared to his EU counterparts...That has included blaming “[[Ukrainian Nazi]]s and [[fascist]]s” for the start of the direct [[Donbas war|conflict between Ukraine and Russia in 2014]]; accusing Slovakia’s president of being a U.S. agent; describing the EU as a “war machine under the influence of the USA”, and arguing weapons deliveries to Ukraine have undermined Slovak [[sovereignty]]".<ref>[https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/29/robert-fico-slovakias-election-could-further-fracture-ukraine-support-.html A populist leader, sympathetic to Putin’s Russia, could be about to win elections in Slovakia], Jenni Reid, CNBC, SEP 29 20231</ref>  American meddling failed to prevent Fico's win.<ref>[https://korybko.substack.com/p/american-meddling-failed-to-prevent American Meddling Failed To Prevent Robert Fico’s Victory In The Latest Slovak Elections], ANDREW KORYBKO, OCT 1, 2023</ref>

=== Principal Government Officials ===

=== Principal Government Officials ===

In February 2022, 44% of people blamed NATO and the US for the tension on the Ukrainian borders, while only 33% blamed Russia.

In February 2022, 44% of people blamed NATO and the US for the tension on the Ukrainian borders, while only 33% blamed Russia.

Robert Fico said in August 2023, "War always comes from [[the West]] and peace from the East....What’s happening today is useless slaughter...They are emptying military warehouses to force countries to buy more American weapons."<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/09/29/who-is-robert-fico-slovakia-elections/ Who is Robert Fico? Pro-Russia populist is favored in Slovakia elections]. Loveday Morris and Ladka Bauerova, ''Washington Post]]'', September 29, 2023.</ref>

Robert Fico said in August 2023, "War always comes from [[the West]] and peace from the East....What’s happening today is useless slaughter...They are emptying military warehouses to force countries to buy more American weapons."<ref>[https://archive.ph/ffgws Who is Robert Fico? Pro-Russia populist is favored in Slovakia elections]. Loveday Morris and Ladka Bauerova, ''Washington Post]]'', September 29, 2023.</ref>

==Military==

==Military==