Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico accused European Union leadership of building the “European home” on a foundation of “rusophobia” during a public address at Devín. Fico called for Slovakia to return to its value base and praised last year’s constitutional changes.
The Prime Minister’s remarks, delivered at the historic Devín site, focused on a push for a new document about the vision of Slovakia to anchor Slovak values. Fico used the platform to attack critics of the celebrations.
This rhetoric follows a period of political activity since Fico returned to power. His government’s moves have drawn scrutiny from European partners and domestic opposition.
Why Robert Fico targeted EU elites and “rusophobia”
Prime Minister Robert Fico claimed that European political elites are operating under a bias he termed “rusophobia,” asserting that this sentiment dictates the EU’s current approach to international relations. According to the Prime Minister, this ideological stance hinders a pragmatic approach to peace and stability in Europe.
Fico’s comments align with his administration’s broader foreign policy shift. Since taking office, Fico has maintained that Slovakia should not provide military aid to Ukraine, while continuing to provide humanitarian assistance. This position has placed Slovakia at odds with several NATO allies and EU member states who advocate for sustained military support to Kyiv.
The Prime Minister argued that the current European trajectory ignores the complexities of regional security and instead relies on a framework of hostility toward Russia. He suggested that Slovakia must resist these external pressures to maintain a foreign policy that serves its own national interests rather than the directives of Brussels.
The push for a “value-based” vision for Slovakia
During the event at Devín, Fico called for a national return to what he described as Slovakia’s “value-based foundation.” He announced intentions to anchor these values in a document about the vision of Slovakia.
This move toward a formalized “vision” suggests a desire to institutionalize a conservative social agenda. Fico emphasized that the country must protect its traditional identity against what he perceives as the eroding influence of liberal Western ideologies. He framed the return to these values not as a regression, but as a necessary reclamation of national sovereignty.
The proposed document is expected to address family structures, national heritage, and the role of the state in preserving cultural norms. By anchoring these values in an official government document, the administration seeks to provide a legal and political justification for policies that prioritize traditionalism over the progressive social norms promoted by the European Commission.
Constitutional changes and the legal shift in Bratislava
Fico used the address to praise last year’s constitutional changes. He presented these modifications as victories for the rule of law and national stability, though they remain points of intense contention among legal experts and political opponents.
A central pillar of these changes was the abolition of the Special Prosecutor’s Office (ÚŠP), a move the government justified as a necessary cleanup of a “politicized” institution. According to official government statements, the restructuring was intended to ensure that prosecutions are handled by a more transparent and less biased system. However, critics argue the move was designed to halt investigations into high-ranking members of the current government.
These legal shifts are part of a broader pattern of institutional reform. The Fico administration has also targeted the Slovak police and intelligence services, replacing top leadership and modifying the mandates of oversight bodies. The Prime Minister defended these actions at Devín, claiming they are essential for removing the “influence of previous regimes” and ensuring the state apparatus serves the current democratic mandate.
For more context on the legal landscape, the Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic provides official records on legislative changes and judicial restructuring.
Reactions to the Devín celebrations and national identity
The Prime Minister spent a portion of his speech attacking those who criticized the nature and scale of the celebrations held at Devín. Fico characterized these critics as “elites” who are disconnected from the common citizen and hostile toward Slovak national pride.
By framing the celebrations as a symbol of national unity, Fico positioned any opposition to the events as an attack on the Slovak people themselves. He argued that the ability to celebrate national history without apology is a marker of a truly sovereign state.
This strategy of contrasting the “will of the people” against a “detached elite” has been a hallmark of Fico’s political communication. At Devín, this served to consolidate his base by linking national identity with his specific political project, suggesting that loyalty to the state is synonymous with support for his administration’s direction.
What this means for Slovakia’s relationship with the EU
Fico’s rhetoric at Devín signals a continued period of friction between Bratislava and Brussels. The combination of “rusophobia” accusations, a push for traditionalist “vision” documents, and the dismantling of specialized prosecutorial bodies creates a multifaceted tension.
The European Commission has previously expressed concerns regarding the rule of law in Slovakia. The abolition of the Special Prosecutor’s Office and changes to the penal code are viewed by some EU monitors as potential regressions in the fight against corruption. If the “vision document” Fico proposed includes restrictions on minority rights or diverges sharply from EU human rights standards, it could trigger further legal challenges from the European Court of Justice.
Despite this, Fico maintains that Slovakia remains a member of the EU, but one that refuses to be a “puppet” of a specific ideological wing of the union. He advocates for a “Europe of Nations” model, where member states retain maximum autonomy over their internal social and legal affairs.
The broader impact of this shift is visible in Slovakia’s voting patterns within the European Council, where it has increasingly aligned with other sovereignist movements in Central Europe, such as those seen in Hungary.
Official updates on Slovakia’s diplomatic status and EU compliance can be tracked through the European Commission’s official portal.
The next confirmed checkpoint for the administration’s legal agenda will be the upcoming parliamentary sessions where further amendments to the penal code and judicial oversight laws are expected to be debated. These sessions will determine whether the “vision” discussed at Devín translates into binding legislation.
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