Initial estimates at the beginning of the year anticipated that 23 of the 32 Alliance members would meet the 2-percent commitment; however, Montenegro ultimately did not. The current discourse discusses further increasing spending above three percent of GDP, while Donald Trump calls for up to five percent.

Robert Fico claims that he is going to Moscow to pay tribute to the victims of World War II. However, the Kremlin uses May 9 as a propaganda tool, which also justifies the invasion of Ukraine. European diplomacy has already warned that it is precisely Putin who desecrates the memory of the fallen by waging a neo-imperialist war.

The constitutional amendment creates room for Slovakia to reject certain EU legal acts. This is dangerous and could result in a conflict between Slovakia and EU institutions, says Katarína Batková, Executive Director of Via Iuris, in an interview.

The international human rights organization ILGA-Europe criticizes government interventions against the civil sector and the halt of funding for LGBTI organizations. In their rainbow rights ranking, Slovakia fell two places year-on-year.

The governments of Robert Fico increased freedom until 2016, but his third and fourth governments have been responsible for sharp declines. This time, Slovakia fell nine places year-on-year, reaching its worst position in 15 years.