The ALDE Party strongly condemns the amendment to the Slovak Constitution, a decision that marks a serious setback for liberal democracy and European values in Slovakia. This is not just a legal change—it is a profound violation of the rights and dignity of countless people across the country.
By adopting these amendments, Prime Minister Fico has chosen to prioritise nationalist and exclusionary views over fundamental human rights and equality.
This moment is a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle to defend liberal values in Europe. ALDE Party will continue to stand firmly against any attempts to undermine democracy and human rights.
This is a critical moment for Slovakia. This amendment is an attack on the core principles of liberal democracy, equality and respect for diversity. It fosters division, discrimination and exclusion, inflicting real harm on vulnerable communities in Slovakia.
We regret that this amendment constitutionally restricts recognition of sex to biological male and female only, effectively banning gender transition and erasing the lived experiences of transgender individuals, grants parents the right to exclude their children from education on intimate matters based on personal beliefs, undermining inclusive and comprehensive education and defines parents exclusively as a man and a woman, legally denying the existence and rights of same-sex families.
The amendment establishes the supremacy of the Slovak Constitution over EU law and international human rights treaties, a move clearly aimed at dismantling the European Union’s legal framework and weakening Slovakia’s commitments as an EU member state. This allows Slovakia to disregard its obligations under international treaties, including the European Convention on Human Rights, when deemed a matter of “national identity.” Respect for European democratic values is not optional, and the European Union must act decisively when these are not respected, including by applying rule of law conditionality to EU funds.
We urge the current Slovak leadership to reconsider these harmful changes and to reaffirm their commitment to European democratic values that protect the rights and freedoms of all individuals, regardless of gender identity or family structure.
Svenja Hahn, ALDE Party President
Lucia Plaváková, ALDE Party Vice-President