Prime Minister Robert Fico has dismissed calls from Maroš Žilinka to amend laws to improve the prosecution of tax crimes, stating he has no intention of changing the current legal framework. The Prime Minister’s refusal follows public criticism from the Prosecutor General regarding recent changes to the penal code, which have been linked to a decline in the successful resolution of tax-related offenses.
Why the Prosecutor General is Raising Concerns
Maroš Žilinka has expressed concern over the effectiveness of the current legal system following legislative updates to the penal code. Data provided by the Prosecutor General this week indicates that in the first six months of 2025, law enforcement agencies prosecuted 12 individuals for tax fraud, with 10 people being formally indicted.
These figures follow a trend identified earlier this year. In March, the Prosecutor General reported a significant drop in activity compared to 2024. At that time, the number of persons against whom criminal proceedings were initiated had fallen by 49 percent, while the number of individuals indicted had dropped by 57 percent.
The Prosecutor General reported that in the first half of 2025, authorities initiated criminal proceedings against 12 individuals for tax fraud, a period marked by ongoing debates regarding the impact of recent penal code revisions.
The Prime Minister’s Stance on Legislative Reform
Prime Minister Fico rejected the necessity of legislative intervention, questioning the logic behind calls for stricter legal measures. “To treba viac ľudí obviniť. To si máme vymýšľať tie obvinenia?” the Prime Minister asked, challenging the notion that legal changes are the primary driver of prosecution rates.
Fico drew a comparison to the so-called “horalkový zákon,” or “wafer law,” noting that while critics previously claimed food thefts increased due to changes in the Penal Code, the number of thefts eventually decreased after penalties were tightened. He argued that the rise in thefts was not caused by the legislative changes themselves. He further questioned whether the Prosecutor General intended to see a return to “drakonické tresty,” or draconian punishments, suggesting that simply announcing higher penalties would not necessarily lead to more successful prosecutions.
The current tension highlights a fundamental disagreement between the executive and the prosecution regarding the relationship between penal code severity and crime detection. While the Prosecutor General points to declining prosecution statistics as evidence of a systemic challenge, the Prime Minister maintains that modern, sophisticated tax fraud requires investigative focus rather than broad legislative overhauls.
What May Happen Next
Given the Prime Minister’s explicit statement that he holds a different view on this issue than Maroš Žilinka, further legislative changes regarding tax crime enforcement are unlikely in the near term. The government maintains that the state is currently investigating corruption adequately under the existing laws.
Future developments may depend on whether the Prosecutor General provides further data to support his claims that the current penal code hinders the investigation of tax fraud. Without a shift in the government’s position, the disparity between the prosecution’s concerns and the administration’s policy stance is likely to persist as a point of friction between the two offices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main point of disagreement between the Prime Minister and the Prosecutor General?
The two officials disagree on whether recent changes to the penal code have negatively impacted the prosecution of tax crimes. The Prosecutor General suggests the changes have led to lower success rates, while the Prime Minister argues that legislative changes are not to blame for investigation outcomes.
How have prosecution numbers for tax fraud changed in 2025?
According to the Prosecutor General, there was a 49 percent decrease in the number of individuals against whom criminal proceedings were initiated and a 57 percent decrease in indictments as of March 2025, compared to the previous year.
What is the Prime Minister’s view on the complexity of tax fraud?
The Prime Minister stated that tax fraud is currently sophisticated and not easy to detect, arguing that increasing penalties or changing laws would not necessarily improve the number of people prosecuted.
Do you believe that stricter penalties or enhanced investigative resources are more effective in addressing sophisticated financial crimes?
