Mária Kolíková faces criticism over justice ministry handling after General Milan Lučanský's death

Former Slovak Justice Minister Mária Kolíková was sharply criticised for her response to the death of General Milan Lučanský. In a televised interview, Kolíková described the general’s death as the strongest moment of her tenure, prompting MP Zuzana Plevíková to accuse her of lacking empathy, making cold remarks and recalling Kolíková’s earlier comments about another death in custody, that of lawyer Ľubomír Krivočenko.

Kolíková also asserted that she intended to return to the ministry to complete pending reforms. However, the successor reported that the reforms she announced were incomplete, with an unfinished proposal for a new criminal procedure and a controversial “court map” that caused uncertainty among judges and risked the loss of EU funding. The successor had to stabilize the courts and address organisational and technical shortcomings.

Both accounts highlight ongoing political controversy in Slovakia over Kolíková’s conduct, the handling of high‑profile deaths, and the state of judicial reform.