Editing Slovakia (section)

== Government and politics ==
{{Main|Politics of Slovakia|Law of Slovakia}}
{{See also|Prime Minister of Slovakia|President of Slovakia|National Council of the Slovak Republic}}

{{multiple image
| caption_align     = center
| image1            = Robert Fico, Nov 2023.jpg
| width1            = 129
| caption1          = [[Robert Fico]],<br /><small>[[Prime Minister of Slovakia|Prime Minister]]<br />since 2023</small>
| image2            = Peter Pellegrini, 2024.jpg
| width2            = 132
| caption2          = [[Peter Pellegrini]],<br /><small>[[File:Flag of the President of Slovakia.svg|20x20px]] [[President of Slovakia|President]]<br />since 2024</small>
}}

Slovakia is a [[Parliamentary system|parliamentary democratic]] republic with a [[multi-party system]]. The last [[2023 Slovak parliamentary election|parliamentary elections]] were held on 30&nbsp;September 2023 and two rounds of [[2024 Slovak presidential election|presidential elections]] took place on 23&nbsp;March and 6&nbsp;April 2024.

The Slovak [[head of state]] and the formal head of the executive is the president (currently [[Peter Pellegrini]]), though with very limited powers. The president is elected by direct, popular vote under the [[two-round system]] for a five-year term. Most [[Executive (government)|executive]] power lies with the [[head of government]], the prime minister (currently [[Robert Fico]]), who is usually the leader of the winning party and who needs to form a majority coalition in the parliament. The prime minister is appointed by the president. The remainder of the cabinet is appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister.

Slovakia's highest [[Legislature|legislative]] body is the 150-seat [[Unicameralism|unicameral]] [[National Council (Slovakia)|National Council of the Slovak Republic]] (''Národná rada Slovenskej republiky''). Delegates are elected for a four-year term on the basis of [[proportional representation]].

Slovakia's highest [[Judiciary|judicial body]] is the [[Constitutional Court of Slovakia]] (''Ústavný súd''), which rules on constitutional issues. The 13&nbsp;members of this court are appointed by the president from a slate of candidates nominated by parliament.

The [[Constitution of Slovakia|Constitution of the Slovak Republic]] was ratified 1&nbsp;September 1992, and became effective 1&nbsp;January 1993. It was amended in September 1998 to allow [[direct election]] of the president and again in February 2001 due to EU admission requirements. The [[Civil law (legal system)|civil law system]] is based on Austro-Hungarian codes. The [[Code of law|legal code]] was modified to comply with the obligations of [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|Organisation on Security and Cooperation in Europe]] (OSCE) and to expunge the [[Marxism–Leninism|Marxist–Leninist]] [[Law|legal theory]]. Slovakia accepts the compulsory [[International Court of Justice]] jurisdiction with reservations.

{{office-table}}
|[[President of Slovakia|President]]
|[[Peter Pellegrini]]
|[[Independent politician|Independent]]
|15 June 2024
|-
|[[Prime Minister of Slovakia|Prime Minister]]
|[[Robert Fico]]
|[[Direction – Social Democracy]]
|25 October 2023
|-
|[[List of speakers of Slovak parliaments|Speaker of the National Council]]
|[[Richard Raši]]
|[[Voice – Social Democracy]]
|7 April 2024
|}

{{multiple image
 | align = center
 | total_width = 650
 | image1 = Grassalkovich Palace (2).jpg
 | caption1 = [[Grassalkovich Palace]] in [[Bratislava]] is the seat of the [[President of Slovakia]]
 | image2 = Bratislava, Parlament, Slovensko.jpg
 | caption2 = The [[National Council (Slovakia)|National Council]] building in [[Bratislava]]
 | image3 = Bratislava, Letný arcibiskupský palác, Slovensko.jpg
 | caption3 = [[Episcopal Summer Palace, Bratislava|Episcopal Summer Palace]], the seat of the [[government of Slovakia]]
}}

=== Foreign relations ===
{{Main|Foreign relations of Slovakia}}
{{See also|Minister of Foreign and European Affairs|List of diplomatic missions of Slovakia}}
[[File:President Trump Welcomes the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic to the White House (33889395928).jpg|thumb|Former Slovak Prime Minister [[Peter Pellegrini]] (current President of Slovakia) with U.S. President [[Donald Trump]] in the [[White House]], 2019]]

The [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Slovakia)|Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs]] ({{langx|sk|Ministerstvo zahraničných vecí a európskych záležitostí}}) is responsible for maintaining the Slovak Republic's [[Foreign relations of Slovakia|external relations]] and the management of its [[List of diplomatic missions of Slovakia|international diplomatic missions]]. The ministry's [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Slovakia)|director]] is [[Juraj Blanár]]. The ministry oversees Slovakia's affairs with foreign entities, including bilateral relations with individual nations and its representation in international organisations.

Slovakia joined the [[European Union]] and [[NATO]] in 2004, the [[Schengen Area]] in 2007 and the [[eurozone]] in 2009.

Slovakia is a member of the [[United Nations]] (since 1993) and participates in its specialised agencies. The country was, on 10&nbsp;October 2005, elected to a two-year term on the [[United Nations Security Council|UN Security Council]] from 2006 to 2007. It is also a member of the [[Council of Europe]] (CoE), the [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe]] (OSCE), the [[World Trade Organization|World Trade Organisation]] (WTO), the [[World Health Organization]] (WHO), the [[OECD|Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development]] (OECD), the [[International Monetary Fund]] (IMF), the [[Union for the Mediterranean]] (UfM), the [[International Criminal Police Organization|International Criminal Police Organisation]] (INTERPOL), the [[United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization|United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation]] (UNESCO), the [[European Organization for Nuclear Research|European Organisation for Nuclear Research]] (CERN), the [[Bucharest Nine]] (B9) and part of the [[Visegrád Group]] (V4: Slovakia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Poland).
[[File:PM of Slovakia Robert Fico meeting President Putin.jpg|thumb|Slovak Prime Minister [[Robert Fico]] with Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]] in the [[Moscow Kremlin]], 2024]]
In 2024, Slovak citizens had visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 184 countries and territories, putting the [[Slovak passport]] at the 10th rank of travel freedom (tied with Latvia and Iceland) on the [[Henley Passport Index]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Global Ranking&nbsp;– Visa Restriction Index 2024|url=https://www.henleyglobal.com/passport-index/ranking|access-date=26 December 2024}}</ref>

Slovakia maintains [[Diplomacy|diplomatic relations]] with 134 countries, primarily through its [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Slovakia)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs]]. Slovakia maintained 90 missions abroad, including 64 embassies, seven missions to multilateral organisations, nine consulates-general, one consular office, one Slovak Economic and Cultural Office and eight Slovak Institutes.<ref>SITA. [http://www.webnoviny.sk/slovensko/slovensko-ma-velvyslanectvo-v-spojeny/763136-clanok.html "Slovensko má veľvyslanectvo v Spojených arabských emirátoch"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001182524/http://www.webnoviny.sk/slovensko/slovensko-ma-velvyslanectvo-v-spojeny/763136-clanok.html |date=1 October 2016 }}, ''WebNoviny.sk'', Bratislava, 1 December 2013. Retrieved on 29 April 2014.</ref> Bratislava hosts 41 foreign [[diplomatic mission|embassies]] and 22 [[consul (representative)|consulates]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://embassies.net/slovakia/bratislava|title=Embassies in Bratislava|date=14 December 2024|website=Embassies.net}}</ref>

Largest trading partners are countries of the European Union. In 2024, more than 80% of Slovak exports went to the [[European Union]], and more than 65% of Slovak imports came from other European Union member states.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://slovak.statistics.sk/wps/portal/ext/products/informationmessages/inf_sprava_detail/76bd0773-1762-4ec2-b293-5bf75c881af2/!ut/p/z1/tVJNc4IwFPwtHjxm8vgMHoNTAYtMQQHh0gFEpSigZGjtr2-ovfSg2ENzSTKz-3b3vYdjvMZxlXTFLmFFXSUH_o9i9dUllqbrAgXQbQms-fPSMacz0fAVHP4GaI73BNaKvhjeXBZAVnB8nx_gGMdZxRq2x1GdtsketSUqqi1KSjYG_qjPR-6mq3LUNueku4yha3NW8puo6QYIkZBAVBHJeSaiVJxISEm3RMk0TUi2Yl--yYoNjh5Ch0N5-zhw41D44U8NasrEBtBsQwGLmr43cSUJqDTUjiv_jsAgP_6G3HMwlOEKoK7rLu0gACMQZ2BJggGO73NJdQCwUnHEU5CbNgWCw67I37Ff9bM94OUfh2QCng81gi9u8XY6xZRvV12x_IPh9X-sF9cRz4vpYscTJGzfl67x-iFqc_SPmnQpClR65qfuICPUWjoafQEbqweL/dz/d5/L0lDUmlTUSEhL3dHa0FKRnNBLzROV3FpQSEhL2Vu/#:~:text=79.2%25%20of%20the%20Slovak%20exports,member%20states%20decreased%20by%2016.7%25.|title=Foreign trade – preliminary results in March and detailed data in the first two months of 2024|date=9 May 2024|website=Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic}}</ref>

Slovakia and the [[United States]] retain strong diplomatic ties and cooperate in the [[military]] and [[Law enforcement agency|law enforcement]] areas. U.S. Department of Defence programmes has contributed significantly to Slovak military reforms. The two countries have a long history tracing back to the [[American Revolutionary War]], when a Slovak Major, Ján Ladislav Polerecký, fought alongside [[George Washington]] in [[Siege of Yorktown|Yorktowne]] to win the colonies' independence.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20551775/what-connects-americans-and-slovaks.html|title=What connects Americans and Slovaks|date=13 June 2017|website=The Slovak Spectator}}</ref> 
President [[Woodrow Wilson]] and the United States played a major role in the establishment of the original [[First Czechoslovak Republic|Czechoslovak]] state on 28&nbsp;October 1918. Around one million Americans have their roots in Slovakia, and many retain strong cultural and familial ties to the Slovak Republic. American steel producer [[U. S. Steel]] is the largest employer in Eastern Slovakia in [[U. S. Steel Košice, s.r.o.|Košice]] with 12,000 employees.

=== Military ===
{{Main|Slovak Armed Forces}}
{{See also|Slovak Air Force}}

[[File:Slovak Army 5th Special Forces Regiment in Afghanistan2.jpg|thumb|Slovak 5th Special Forces Regiment in eastern Afghanistan during the [[Operation Enduring Freedom]]]]

The president is formally the [[commander-in-chief]] of the Slovak armed forces.

Slovakia joined [[NATO]] in March 2004.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nato.int/docu/update/2004/03-march/e0329a.htm |title=NATO Update: Seven new members join NATO |publisher=Nato.int |date=26 March 2004 |access-date=10 September 2013 |archive-date=15 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140315110351/http://www.nato.int/docu/update/2004/03-march/e0329a.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> From 2006, the army transformed into a fully professional organisation and compulsory military service was abolished. Slovak armed forces numbered 19,500 uniformed personnel and 4,208 civilians in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www1.pluska.sk/spravy/z-domova/vlada-predstavila-novy-plan-toto-udeje-bezpecnostnymi-silami|title=Vláda predstavila nový plán: Toto sa udeje s bezpečnostnými silami!|date=7 January 2021|access-date=8 November 2022|archive-date=8 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208225638/https://www1.pluska.sk/spravy/z-domova/vlada-predstavila-novy-plan-toto-udeje-bezpecnostnymi-silami|url-status=live}}</ref>

The country has been an active participant in US- and NATO-led military actions and involved in many [[List of United Nations peacekeeping missions|United Nations peacekeeping military missions]]: [[United Nations Protection Force|UNPROFOR]] in the Yugoslavia (1992–1995), [[United Nations Observer Mission Uganda–Rwanda|UNOMUR]] in Uganda and Rwanda (1993–1994), [[United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda|UNAMIR]] in Rwanda (1993–1996), [[United Nations Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium|UNTAES]] in Croatia (1996–1998), [[United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia|UNOMIL]] in Liberia (1993–1997), [[United Nations Observer Mission in Angola|MONUA]] in Angola (1997–1999), [[Stabilisation Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina|SFOR]] in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1999–2003), [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|OSCE]] mission in Moldova (1998–2002), [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|OSCE]] mission in Albania (1999), [[Kosovo Force|KFOR]] in Kosovo (1999–2002), [[UNGCI]] in Iraq (2000–2003), [[United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea|UNMEE]] in Ethiopia and Eritrea (2000–2004), [[United Nations Mission of Support to East Timor|UNMISET]] in East Timor (2001), [[European Union Military Operation in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia|EUFOR]] Concordia in Macedonia (2003), [[United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone|UNAMSIL]] in Sierra Leone (1999–2005), [[International response to the War in Darfur|EU supporting action to African Union]] in Darfur (2006), [[Operation Enduring Freedom]] in Afghanistan (2002–2005), [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]] in Iraq (2003–2007) and [[United Nations Disengagement Observer Force|UNDOF]] at the borders of Israel and Syria (1998–2008).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mosr.sk/history-of-military-operations-abroad/ |title=History of military operations abroad |access-date=22 November 2021 |archive-date=17 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217180649/https://www.mosr.sk/history-of-military-operations-abroad/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:UNFICYP peacekeepers patrolling the buffer zone.jpg|thumb|Slovak members of [[UNFICYP]] peacekeepers patrolling the [[United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus|buffer zone]] in Cyprus]]

As of 2025, Slovakia has 240 military personnel deployed in [[Cyprus]] for [[UNFICYP]] [[United Nations]] led [[Peacekeeping|peace support operation]]s, 50 troops deployed in [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] for [[EUFOR Althea]] and 135 troops deployed in [[Latvia]] for [[NATO Enhanced Forward Presence]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mosr.sk/operacie-europa-a-blizky-vychod/|title=Operácie – Európa a Blízky východ|date=7 January 2025|website=Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic}}</ref>

The Slovak [[Ground Forces of the Slovak Republic|Ground Forces]] are made up of two active [[mechanised infantry]] [[brigade]]s. The [[Slovak Air Force|Air and Air Defence Forces]] comprise one [[Wing (military unit)|wing]] of [[Fighter aircraft|fighters]], one wing of utility [[helicopter]]s, and one SAM brigade. Training and support forces comprise a National Support Element (Multifunctional Battalion, Transport Battalion, Repair Battalion), a garrison force of the capital city Bratislava, as well as a training battalion, and various logistics, communication, and information bases. Miscellaneous forces under the direct command of the [[Staff (military)|General Staff]] include the [[5th Special Operations Regiment (Slovakia)|5th Special Forces Regiment]].

=== Human rights ===
{{main|Human rights in Slovakia}}

Human rights in Slovakia are guaranteed by the [[Constitution of Slovakia]] from the year 1992 and by multiple international laws signed in Slovakia between 1948 and 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mzv.sk/servlet/content?MT=/App/WCM/main.nsf/vw_ByID/zahranicna__politika&TG=BlankMaster&URL=/App/WCM/main.nsf/vw_ByID/medzinarodne_zmluvy-zmluvy_podla_predmetu&CTYPE=%C4%BDudsk%C3%A9%20pr%C3%A1va&OpenDocument=Y&LANG=SK&PAGE_VSETKYZMLUVY-DWMCEA-7XEM76=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515054034/http://www.mzv.sk/servlet/content?MT=%2FApp%2FWCM%2Fmain.nsf%2Fvw_ByID%2Fzahranicna__politika&TG=BlankMaster&URL=%2FApp%2FWCM%2Fmain.nsf%2Fvw_ByID%2Fmedzinarodne_zmluvy-zmluvy_podla_predmetu&CTYPE=%C4%BDudsk%C3%A9%20pr%C3%A1va&OpenDocument=Y&LANG=SK&PAGE_VSETKYZMLUVY-DWMCEA-7XEM76=1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 May 2011 |title=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovakia – list of international acts relating to human rights |publisher=Mzv.sk |access-date=10 September 2013}}</ref> Slovakia performs favourably in measurements of [[Freedom in the World|civil liberties]], [[Press Freedom Index|press freedom]], [[Internet censorship and surveillance by country|internet freedom]], [[Democracy Index|democratic governance]], and [[Global Peace Index|peacefulness]].

[[United States Department of State|The US State Department]] in 2021 reported:
<blockquote>The government generally respected the human rights of its citizens; however, there were problems in some areas. Significant human rights issues included credible reports of: corruption; violence and threats of violence against Roma and members of other ethnic and racial minorities; and violence and threats of violence targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex persons.<ref>U.S. Dept. of State, [https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/slovakia/ "2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Slovakia" 30 March 2023] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206000511/https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/slovakia/ |date=6 February 2023 }}</ref></blockquote>

According to the [[European Roma Rights Centre]] (ERRC), [[Romani people in Slovakia]] "endure racism in the job market, housing and education fields and are often subjected to forced evictions, vigilante intimidation, disproportionate levels of police brutality and more subtle forms of discrimination."<ref>{{cite news |title=Life in Slovakia's Roma slums: Poverty and segregation |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2017/04/life-slovakia-roma-slums-poverty-segregation-170425090756677.html |work=Al-Jazeera |date=10 May 2017 |access-date=2 November 2019 |archive-date=4 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200904114517/https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2017/04/life-slovakia-roma-slums-poverty-segregation-170425090756677.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Administrative divisions ===
{{Main|Regions of Slovakia|Districts of Slovakia|List of municipalities and towns in Slovakia}}

[[File:Hlavné Namestie (35096533142).jpg|thumb|right|[[Bratislava]], capital and largest city of Slovakia]]
Slovakia is divided into 8 ''[[kraj]]e'' (singular—''kraj'', usually translated as "region"), each of which is named after its principal city. Regions have enjoyed a certain degree of autonomy since 2002. Their [[Self-governance|self-governing]] bodies are referred to as Self-governing (or autonomous) Regions (sg. ''samosprávny kraj'', pl. ''samosprávne kraje'') or Upper-Tier Territorial Units (sg. ''vyšší územný celok'', pl. ''vyššie územné celky'', abbr. VÚC).

The ''kraje'' are subdivided into ''[[okres]]y'' (sg. ''okres'', usually translated as districts). Slovakia currently has 79&nbsp;districts.

The ''okresy'' are further divided into {{lang|sk|[[List of municipalities and towns in Slovakia|obce]]}} (sg. {{lang|sk|obec}}, usually translated as "municipality"). There are currently 2,890 municipalities.

In terms of economics and [[unemployment]] rate, the western regions are richer than eastern regions. Bratislava is the 19th-richest region of the [[European Union]] by GDP (PPP) per capita;<ref>{{cite web |title=Regional gross domestic product (PPS per inhabitant) by NUTS 2 regions |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/TGS00005/default/table |website=[[Eurostat]] |access-date=29 June 2023 |language=en |date=21 Feb 2023 |archive-date=13 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230713042916/https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/TGS00005/default/table |url-status=live }}</ref> GDP at purchasing power parity is about three times higher than in other Slovak regions.<ref name="finweb.hnonline.sk">{{cite web|url=https://finweb.hnonline.sk/ekonomika/919558-bratislava-je-treti-najbohatsi-region-unie|title=Bratislava je tretí najbohatší región únie. Ako je možné, že predbehla Londýn či Paríž?|website=finweb.hnonline.sk|date=March 2017|access-date=14 April 2019|archive-date=13 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211213235236/https://finweb.hnonline.sk/ekonomika/919558-bratislava-je-treti-najbohatsi-region-unie|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://laboureconomics.wordpress.com/2013/04/29/bratislava-capital-city-of-slovakia-versus-other-regions-of-slovak-republic/|title=Bratislava – capital city of Slovakia versus other regions of Slovak Republic|last=matejvician|date=29 April 2013|website=wordpress.com|access-date=14 April 2019|archive-date=14 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214000107/https://laboureconomics.wordpress.com/2013/04/29/bratislava-capital-city-of-slovakia-versus-other-regions-of-slovak-republic/|url-status=live}}</ref>

{|style="width:98%;"
|
{{Heraldic map of Slovakia}}
|
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Name in English
! Name in Slovak
! Administrative seat
! Population (2019)
|-
|[[File:Coat of Arms of Bratislava Region.svg|x20px]] [[Bratislava Region]] || style="font-size:90%;" |''Bratislavský kraj'' || [[File:Coat of Arms of Bratislava.svg|x20px]] [[Bratislava]] || align="right" | 669 592
|-
|[[File:Coat of Arms of Trnava Region.svg|x20px]] [[Trnava Region]] || style="font-size:90%;" |''Trnavský kraj'' || [[File:Coat of Arms of Trnava.svg|x20px]] [[Trnava]] || align="right" | 564 917
|-
|[[File:Coat of Arms of Nitra Region.svg|x20px]] [[Nitra Region]] || style="font-size:90%;" |''Nitriansky kraj'' || [[File:Coat of Arms of Nitra.svg|x20px]] [[Nitra]] || align="right" | 674 306
|-
|[[File:Coat of Arms of Trenčín Region.svg|x20px]] [[Trenčín Region]] || style="font-size:90%;" |''Trenčiansky kraj'' || [[File:Coat of Arms of Trenčín.svg|x20px]] [[Trenčín]] || align="right" | 584 569
|-
|[[File:Coat of Arms of Žilina Region.svg|x20px]] [[Žilina Region]] || style="font-size:90%;" |''Žilinský kraj'' || [[File:Coat of Arms of Žilina.svg|x20px]] [[Žilina]] || align="right" | 691 509
|-
|[[File:Coat of Arms of Banská Bystrica Region.svg|x20px]] [[Banská Bystrica Region]] || style="font-size:90%;" |''Banskobystrický kraj'' || [[File:Coat of Arms of Banská Bystrica.svg|x20px]] [[Banská Bystrica]] || align="right" | 645 276
|-
|[[File:Coat of Arms of Prešov Region.svg|x20px]] [[Prešov Region]] || style="font-size:90%;" |''Prešovský kraj'' || [[File:Coat of Arms of Prešov.svg|x20px]] [[Prešov]] || align="right" | 826 244
|-
|[[File:Coat of Arms of Košice Region.svg|x20px]] [[Košice Region]] || style="font-size:90%;" |''Košický kraj'' || [[File:Coat of Arms of Košice.svg|x20px]] [[Košice]] || align="right" | 802 460
|}
|}