On April 29, 2019, the Supreme Court of the Slovak Republic rejected a motion filed by the General Prosecutor to dissolve Marián Kotleba’s far-right political party, Ľudová strana Naše Slovensko (ĽSNS). The court ruled that the proposal did not meet the strict conditions required for such a measure, stating that the evidence failed to prove the party posed an immediate threat to the democratic order. The judges emphasized that dissolving a political party represents an extreme intervention in the right of association and must only be used as a last resort.
The proceedings attracted significant public attention. Before the hearing, a group of public figures, artists, and civic activists gathered in front of the Supreme Court in Bratislava carrying banners reading “Stop Fascism.” The demonstration aimed to express opposition to the normalization of extremist politics and to remind the public of the dangers posed by far-right ideology.
At the same time, Kotleba’s supporters assembled outside the court, celebrating the eventual verdict as a political victory. After the ruling, Kotleba declared that there was now “no reason for anyone to be afraid to vote for us.” The decision allowed ĽSNS to continue its political activities, highlighting the tension between defending democratic freedoms and confronting extremist movements operating within legal boundaries. The case became a symbolic moment in Slovakia’s ongoing debate over how far democracy can go in tolerating anti-democratic forces.
