A year ago, Slovak Parliament Vice-Chair Tibor Gašpar from the Smer party voiced his opposition to enshrining Slovakia’s EU and NATO membership in the constitution, stating that 'the doors must remain open' for a possible exit from the Union, which should be decided through a referendum. This sparked massive street protests, with tens of thousands of Slovakians expressing their rejection of the idea of leaving the EU and NATO, criticizing Prime Minister Robert Fico for his pro-Russian policies, especially following his unexpected pre-Christmas visit to Moscow to meet President Vladimir Putin.

In response to Gašpar's remarks, Smer party leaders repeatedly reaffirmed that Slovakia's rightful place is in the EU and NATO, yet public concerns have not been alleviated. The political landscape is fraught with tension, with a significant portion of the population feeling uneasy about the government's direction and its implications for Slovakia's democratic values. The historical context of these developments highlights a growing sense of unease regarding the future of democracy in Slovakia.

The 2025 V-Dem report, published by a respected research project at the University of Gothenburg, closely monitors the state of democracy in various countries, including Slovakia. According to their findings, Slovakia is experiencing a decline in democratic quality, marking a worrying trend for a nation that has been an established member of the EU and NATO for decades. The implications of these findings suggest that unless there is a concerted effort to reinforce democratic principles, the shift towards autocracy may continue, posing a threat to the political stability and future governance of Slovakia.