The article discusses the implications of a recent court ruling regarding Jozef Brhel, a founding shareholder of the political party Smer, whose legal troubles were seemingly alleviated by political maneuvers from Slovak leaders Robert Fico and Robert Kaliňák. It suggests that while the legal system appears to have acted, the light penalties assigned to Brhel indicate a deeper, systemic problem within the Slovak judiciary heavily influenced by political actors.

The piece highlights a previous amendment to Slovakia's criminal code, which allowed for more lenient sentences in corruption cases, ultimately benefiting Brhel, who was sentenced to only four years of probation and a 1.5 million euro fine rather than the expected lengthy prison term. The article argues that such a punishment is trivial compared to Brhel's estimated wealth of 160 million euros, underscoring the inadequacy of the legal ramifications for corrupt practices in the country.

By drawing attention to the silence of Fico and Kaliňák about the ruling, the commentary raises alarm bells about the tone of political discourse in Slovakia and the threats posed to the integrity of public institutions. It implies a growing normalization of corruption and suggests that Slovakia might still be on the border of a 'mafia state' if accountability is not restored and the legal system reformed to better serve justice against powerful elites.