Slovakia faces judicial dispute and rising political polarization

Judge Juraj Kliment of the Slovak Supreme Court questioned the legality of the appellate senate that decided the Dušan Kováčik case, alleging procedural irregularities and suggesting political influence. The media amplified his claims, prompting the Supreme Court President František Mozner to explain the senate’s composition changes in reference to Constitutional Court rulings. Other judges, including Peter Šamko, dismissed Kliment’s statements as political activism.

In a separate commentary, MP Marián Kéry warned that Slovak society is becoming increasingly polarized, with aggression and hate dominating public discourse. He linked the trend to social‑media dynamics and the COVID‑19 pandemic, naming former Prime Minister Igor Matovič as a symbol of confrontational politics and urging a return to civil, argument‑based debate.