Block, Siteadmin, SkipCaptcha, Upload, Automoderated users, delete, edit, move, nsTeam2RO, nsTeam2RW, nsTeam2_talkRO, nsTeam2_talkRW, protect, rollback, Administrators, template
293,563
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 42:
Line 42: − + Line 49:
Line 49: − − On 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> Fico and his party won election on the slogan, "Not a single round" in ammunition to Ukraine feeding NATO and the Western powers' warmongering bloodlust. American election meddling in a "sovereign, democratic state" 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> Fico immediately announced, "My people have bigger problems than Ukraine. We will do everything we can to start peace negotiations as quickly as possible. Further killing does not benefit anyone." Line 59:
Line 57: + + + + +
→Government and Political Conditions
Despite its modern European economy and society, Slovakia has a significant [[rural]] element. About 45% of Slovaks live in villages of less than 5,000 people, and 14% in villages of less than 1,000.
Despite its modern European economy and society, Slovakia has a significant [[rural]] element. About 45% of Slovaks live in villages of less than 5,000 people, and 14% in villages of less than 1,000.
== Government and Political Conditions ==
== Government ==
Slovakia's highest legislative body is the 150-seat unicameral National Council of the Slovak Republic. Delegates are elected for 4-year terms on the basis of proportional representation. The Slovak political scene supports a wide spectrum of political parties, including several social democratic parties and the nationalistic Slovak National Party.
Slovakia's highest legislative body is the 150-seat unicameral National Council of the Slovak Republic. Delegates are elected for 4-year terms on the basis of proportional representation. The Slovak political scene supports a wide spectrum of political parties, including several social democratic parties and the nationalistic Slovak National Party.
The country's highest appellate forum is the Supreme Court; below that are regional, district, and military courts. In certain cases, the law provides for decisions of tribunals of judges to be attended by lay judges from the citizenry. Slovakia also has a special Constitutional Court, which rules on constitutional issues. The 13 members of this court are appointed by the president from a slate of candidates nominated by Parliament.
The country's highest appellate forum is the Supreme Court; below that are regional, district, and military courts. In certain cases, the law provides for decisions of tribunals of judges to be attended by lay judges from the citizenry. Slovakia also has a special Constitutional Court, which rules on constitutional issues. The 13 members of this court are appointed by the president from a slate of candidates nominated by Parliament.
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.
=== Principal Government Officials ===
=== Principal Government Officials ===
* Ambassador to NATO: Radovan Javorčík<ref>''[https://www.mzv.sk/web/sdnato-en/about_us/ambassador Ambassador]'' [online]. Brussels : Permanent Delegation of the Slovak Republic to NATO, 2013-04-16, updated 2017-04-13, cited 2020-06-14</ref>
* Ambassador to NATO: Radovan Javorčík<ref>''[https://www.mzv.sk/web/sdnato-en/about_us/ambassador Ambassador]'' [online]. Brussels : Permanent Delegation of the Slovak Republic to NATO, 2013-04-16, updated 2017-04-13, cited 2020-06-14</ref>
* Ambassador to the European Union: Peter Javorčík<ref>''[https://www.mzv.sk/web/szbrusel-en/about_us/ambassador Ambassador]'' [online]. Brussels : Permanent Representation of the Slovak Republic to the EU, [s. a.], cited 2020-06-14</ref>
* Ambassador to the European Union: Peter Javorčík<ref>''[https://www.mzv.sk/web/szbrusel-en/about_us/ambassador Ambassador]'' [online]. Brussels : Permanent Representation of the Slovak Republic to the EU, [s. a.], cited 2020-06-14</ref>
===Recent political conditions===
On 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> Fico and his party won election on the slogan, "Not a single round" in ammunition to Ukraine feeding NATO and the Western powers' warmongering bloodlust. American election meddling in a "sovereign, democratic state" 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> Fico immediately announced, "My people have bigger problems than Ukraine. We will do everything we can to start peace negotiations as quickly as possible. Further killing does not benefit anyone."
Deputy speaker of the Slovakian parliament, Lubas Blaha, said about arms supplies to Ukraine in early 2024: "It was [[the West]] that advanced to Russia's borders through [[NATO expansion]] into Ukraine and organized the [[Maidan]]. It was the West that watched as [[Ukrainian Nazi]] battalions killed people in [[Donbass]] or [[Odessa Trade Unions House massacrre|burned people in Odessa]]. It is not right that two [[Slavic]] nations are at [[war]] and [[Military industrial complex|American arms companies]] are making [[money]] from it."
=== Foreign Relations ===
=== Foreign Relations ===