The publication of a European intelligence ranking by French weekly magazine L’Express has triggered a fierce political storm in Slovakia, pitting the ruling coalition against opposition lawmakers and drawing a sharp response from Prime Minister Robert Fico.
The Intelligence Ranking That Stirred Bratislava
According to reports in Slovak media outlets such as Denník N and broadcaster TA3, the controversy erupted in early August following the release of an international survey evaluating intelligence agencies across the continent. L’Express compiled the assessment by consulting 60 espionage professionals distributed across 25 nations, asking current and recently retired directors to rank their peers using a system that prohibited voting for one’s own country. While British intelligence services dominate Europe, agencies in Hungary, Bulgaria, and Slovakia drew the heaviest criticism.
At the center of the backlash is the Slovak Information Service (SIS), which was named the worst service in Europe. Critics within the survey cited concerns over nepotism, incompétence, and proximity with Russia. Particular scrutiny fell on SIS director Pavol Gaspar, whose appointment drew sharp rebukes given his lack of known intelligence experience. Gaspar made headlines in August 2025 following an accident involving his yellow sports car while he was driving in flip-flops, as well as for utilizing social media to engage directly with political opponents—an unusual practice for the head of a democratic intelligence agency.
Political Fallout and Opposition Reaction
Slovak opposition parties quickly seized on the findings to challenge the government’s handling of national security. Mária Kolíková, a member of parliament for the Freedom and Solidarity party and former Minister of Justice from 2020 to 2022, publicly criticized the leadership of the SIS.
“The direction of the SIS by Gaspar is an international disgrace,” Kolíková stated, arguing that the intelligence service requires structural reform to safeguard national security rather than target political adversaries.
The Slovak Intelligence Platform, a specialized group, also addressed the evaluation, noting that such international assessments serve as a reflection of the nation’s institutional standing and should prompt domestic corrections.
Government Pushback and Attribution Disputes
The coalition government forcefully rejected the ranking’s conclusions. Seven representatives of the ruling coalition serving on the parliamentary committee overseeing the SIS issued a joint statement via the SITA news agency. They accused opposition lawmaker Alojz Hlina of intentionally working to discredit the Slovak Republic through foreign media channels, contending that Hlina lacked adequate insight into the operational realities and achievements of the intelligence service.
The coalition committee members further challenged the validity of the assessment, arguing that European intelligence agencies operate under distinct national mandates that cannot be easily measured through a generalized comparative framework.
Prime Minister Robert Fico escalated the dispute on August 9 in a video statement published on Facebook and broadcast by JOJ24. Fico asserted that the French magazine based its evaluation of the SIS on information provided by Hlina. Hlina subsequently disputed that claim in local media interviews, clarifying that while journalists from L’Express contacted him for an interview regarding the agency’s leadership, he did not participate in compiling or shaping the international ranking itself.
Next Steps and Oversight
The ongoing dispute highlights deep divisions within the Slovak National Council regarding transparency, accountability, and the professionalization of state security apparatuses.
Keep reading
