Editing Slovakia (section)

==== 2020s ====
After the [[2020 Slovak parliamentary election|parliamentary election]] in 2020, [[Igor Matovič]] became the new Prime Minister of Slovakia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://spectator.sme.sk/politics-and-society/c/president-assigns-matovic-to-create-government|title=It's official: Matovič assigned to form the new government|date=4 March 2020|website=The Slovak Spectator}}</ref> Matovič and his government, with little to no previous government experience, was dealing with the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] and [[COVID-19 recession]], during which more than [[COVID-19 pandemic in Slovakia|21,000 people]] died in Slovakia between the years 2020–2023, the worst death toll in the country since the end of World War II.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://spectator.sme.sk/c/23218815/covid-slovakia.html|title=Q&A: Will there be another Covid-19 wave in Slovakia? What about vaccines?|date=22 September 2023|website=The Slovak Spectator}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://spectator.sme.sk/c/22594536/in-2020-slovakia-suffered-its-worst-death-toll-since-the-end-of-ww2.html|title=In 2020, Slovakia suffered its worst death toll since the end of WW2|date=11 February 2020|website=The Slovak Spectator}}</ref> Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Slovak economy faced the worst economic crisis since the [[2008 financial crisis]] and fell into recession.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://spectator.sme.sk/business/c/statistics-data-second-quarter-2020-coronavirus-impact-on-economy|title=Worse than the financial crisis: Economic recession and the very first drop in wages|date=9 September 2020|website=The Slovak Spectator}}</ref>
At the beginning of 2021, Matovič signed an agreement to acquire 2 million doses of Russia's [[Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine]], which has not been cleared by [[European Union]] regulators.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/europe-coronavirus-pandemic-bratislava-zuzana-caputova-slovakia-e9bb5d69e8bc41037e49bdc1f2fc810d|title=Slovak premier, government resign over Russian vaccine deal|date=30 March 2021|website=Associated Press}}</ref> Matovič orchestrated the deal despite disagreement among his coalition partners, which led to a government crisis and his resignation.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/03/29/slovakia-sputnik-matovic/|title=Slovakia's prime minister is the first world leader to step down over covid controversy|date=29 March 2021|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://spectator.sme.sk/politics-and-society/c/igor-matovic-stepped-down-as-pm|title=Igor Matovič stepped down as PM|date=30 March 2021|website=The Slovak Spectator}}</ref> The government continued under a new Prime Minister [[Eduard Heger]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/slovak-president-appoints-eduard-heger-prime-minister-2021-04-01/|title=Slovak president appoints Heger prime minister, ending political crisis|date=1 April 2021|website=Reuters}}</ref> Heger and his government faced many challenges, such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, [[Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russian invasion]] in neighbouring Ukraine, [[Ukrainian refugee crisis]], [[Global energy crisis (2021–2023)|Global energy crisis]] and [[2021–2023 inflation surge|Inflation surge]]. After a strong economic recovery in 2021, growth slowed down markedly in 2022 and 2023 as a result of the consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, notably the subsequent [[International sanctions during the Russo-Ukrainian War|EU sanctions on Russia]] and Global energy crisis.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://spectator.sme.sk/business/c/energy-crisis-will-force-slovak-economy-into-a-recession-in-2023|title=Energy crisis will force Slovak economy into a recession in 2023|date=28 December 2022|website=The Slovak Spectator}}</ref> Slovakia became one of Ukraine's largest [[List of military aid to Ukraine during the Russo-Ukrainian War|donors of military aid]] during Heger's government in 2022 and 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://spectator.sme.sk/politics-and-society/c/slovakia-comes-out-as-one-of-ukraines-biggest-supporters|title=Slovakia comes out as one of Ukraine's biggest supporters|date=25 April 2022|website=The Slovak Spectator}}</ref> Government crisis in Slovakia continued with various disputes in the coalition. At the end of 2022, Heger's government collapsed, after a lost no-confidence vote in parliament.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://spectator.sme.sk/politics-and-society/c/slovakias-government-collapses-after-a-lost-no-confidence-vote|title=Slovakia's government collapses after a lost no-confidence vote|date=15 December 2022|website=The Slovak Spectator}}</ref> In 2023, in the interim before the next election, President Zuzana Čaputová appointed the first [[Technocracy|technocrat government]] in Slovak history and [[Ľudovít Ódor]] became the new Prime Minister for only six months, the third Prime Minister of Slovakia in three years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/slovakia-government-elections-odor-caputova-heger-a4751ae82f60cf74c4c2ddb1a2a9a369|title=Slovakia gets technocratic caretaker government until September's early election|date=15 May 2023|website=Associated Press}}</ref>

After the [[2023 Slovak parliamentary election|parliamentary election]] in 2023, Robert Fico became for the fourth time Prime Minister.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/slovakias-fico-appointed-prime-minister-fourth-time-2023-10-25/|title=Slovakia's Fico appointed prime minister for fourth time|date=25 October 2023|website=Reuters}}</ref> The new government halted military aid to Ukraine, while still providing humanitarian aid and electricity supplies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/slovakia-robert-fico-announce-halt-military-aid-ukraine/|title=Slovakia's Fico announces halt of military aid to Ukraine|date=26 October 2023|website=Politico}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://kyivindependent.com/slovakia-to-increase-electricity-supplies-to-ukraine-ahead-of-colder-months-slovak-president-says/|title=Slovakia to increase electricity supplies to Ukraine during colder months, Slovak president says|date=5 July 2024|website=The Kyiv Independent}}</ref> On May 15, 2024, Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot several times and wounded in an [[Attempted assassination of Robert Fico|assassination attempt]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://spectator.sme.sk/politics-and-society/c/slovak-premier-attack-handlova|title=PM Fico shot as he speaks to supporters in Handlová|date=15 May 2024|website=The Slovak Spectator}}</ref> The suspect stated during interrogation that he acted primarily because of the Fico government's opposition to military assistance to Ukraine.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/slovak-pm-robert-fico-attack-shooting-suspect-policies-ukraine-war/|title=Fico's 'Judas' government should have backed Ukraine, shooting suspect says|date=23 May 2024|website=Politico}}</ref> In 2024, [[Peter Pellegrini]] became the sixth President of Slovakia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://spectator.sme.sk/opinion/c/slovak-president-peter-pellegrinis-inaugural-address|title=President Pellegrini: Slovak interests matter to me more than praise from media and world leaders|date=15 June 2024|website=The Slovak Spectator}}</ref> Pellegrini is the first Slovak politician to have held all three highest constitutional posts (President, Prime Minister and Speaker of Parliament) in the country. Fourth term of Fico’s government is characterized by political instability with fragile coalition, worsening relations with European Union, diplomatic disputes with the closest ally [[Czech Republic]] and growing Russian influence.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lansinginstitute.org/2025/01/15/slovakias-political-turmoil-a-fragile-coalition-and-the-shadow-of-russian-influence/|title=Slovakia’s Political Turmoil: A Fragile Coalition and the Shadow of Russian Influence|date=15 January 2025|website=Robert Lansing Institute}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.radio.cz/slovak-pm-accuses-czech-politicians-interfering-slovakias-internal-affairs-8841199|title=Slovak PM accuses Czech politicians of interfering in Slovakia’s internal affairs|date=28 January 2025|website=Radio Prague International}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ecamaastricht.org/blueandyellow-zoomingin/democracy-under-threat-the-current-political-climate-in-slovakia|title=Democracy under threat - The current political climate in Slovakia|date=19 March 2025|website=ECA Maastricht}}</ref> In 2024, the government brought controversial changes to Slovakia’s rule-of-law bodies and major personnel changes at all state institutions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://eucrim.eu/news/ep-worries-about-rule-of-law-developements-in-slovakia/|title=EP Worries about Rule-of-Law Developements in Slovakia|date=7 February 2024|website=Eucrim}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/analyses/2024-02-12/slovakia-controversial-changes-to-criminal-law-and-a-dispute|title=Slovakia: controversial changes to the criminal law, and a dispute with Brussels on the horizon|date=12 February 2024|website=Centre for Eastern Studies}}</ref> 2025 began with extensive and deep dissatisfaction in Slovak society. Pro-Russia policies of Slovak government, questioning Slovakia's future in the European Union, criticism of Ukrainian President [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]] and Fico's good relationship with Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]], led to [[2025 Slovak protests|widespread demonstrations]] across the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz0rn85v5kjo|title=Slovak PM meets Putin in unannounced Moscow visit|date=23 December 2024|website=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/slovak-pm-scandalizes-with-remarks-about-1738096849.html|title=Slovak PM makes scandalous statement about Zelenskyy|date=28 January 2025|website=RBC-Ukraine}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/experts-warn-of-dangerous-rhetoric-as-smer-mp-questions-slovakias-eu-future/|title=Experts warn of dangerous rhetoric as SMER MP questions Slovakia’s EU future|date=21 January 2025|website=Euractiv}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/slovakias-peaceful-anti-government-protests-grow-nationwide/a-71406871|title=Slovakia's peaceful anti-government protests grow nationwide|date=25 January 2025|website=Deutsche Welle}}</ref> Slovakia fell significantly in the media freedom ranking and corruption ranking.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/slovakia-suffers-historic-drop-in-corruption-ranking-amid-ficos-controversial-reforms/|title=Slovakia suffers historic drop in corruption ranking amid Fico’s controversial reforms|date=12 February 2025|website=Euractiv}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.article19.org/resources/slovakia-new-report-highlights-growing-media-freedom-crisis/|title=Slovakia: New report highlights growing media freedom crisis|date=20 February 2025|website=Article 19}}</ref> Crisis of democratic society was followed by economic decline, underlined by downgrade rating from credit rating agency [[Moody's Ratings|Moody’s]] and later [[S&P Global Ratings|Standard & Poor’s]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://europrospects.eu/slovakias-crisis-deepens-under-fico-economic-decline-and-political-polarization/|title=Slovakia’s Crisis Deepens Under Fico: Economic Decline and Political Polarization|date=1 December 2024|website=Euro Prospects}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://spectator.sme.sk/business/c/moody-s-downgrades-slovakia-s-credit-rating|title=Moody’s downgrades Slovakia’s credit rating|date=16 December 2024|website=The Slovak Spectator}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://disclosure.spglobal.com/ratings/en/regulatory/article/-/view/type/HTML/id/3359667|title=Slovakia Outlook Revised To Negative On Rising Economic Risks; 'A+/A-1' Ratings Affirmed|date=25 April 2025|website=S&P Global}}</ref>