Slovakia's Whistleblower Office: A Step Backward?

Slovakia's government is making big changes to how it protects people who speak up about wrongdoing. They want to shut down the current Whistleblower Protection Office (UOO) and create a new one. The government says the old office was misused for political reasons. They claim the new office will do a better job protecting those who need it. But not everyone agrees. Critics say this move weakens anti-corruption efforts. They argue it gives the government too much control. The new office's leaders will be appointed by the government. This could mean less independence and more political influence. The changes come after the UOO fined the Interior Ministry. This was because police officers were moved during corruption investigations without the office's approval. The government says the new office will also protect crime victims better. But opponents worry it will make things worse for whistleblowers, especially those working for the state. The European Union (EU) is watching closely. The EU's public prosecutor office warned that weakening protections could make it harder to fight corruption. Rights groups like Transparency International and the Whistleblowing International Network are concerned. They say the changes could lead to political interference. The bill was fast-tracked by the government. It was introduced during a rare Saturday cabinet session. The final vote could happen this week. If passed, it could hurt investor confidence. The biggest opposition party, Progressive Slovakia, plans to challenge the law in court. This isn't the first time Slovakia's government has made changes that worry the EU. Since 2023, they have weakened laws against financial crime. They have also revamped the public broadcaster and pushed for changes that assert national sovereignty over some EU laws. These actions have already led to tensions with Brussels.