Slovakia’s protests have surged, with tens of thousands of demonstrators in Bratislava opposing Prime Minister Robert Fico’s closer ties to Russia. The demonstrations, which now number 60,000 people, are the largest since similar events in 2018 after an investigative journalist’s murder. Fico, who won a re-election last year, faces growing criticism for shifting foreign policy away from the EU and NATO toward Russia. Protesters chanted “Enough of Fico” and “We are Europe,” with some lighting up Freedom Square during a power outage. Opposition groups are planning similar rallies in 20 other cities across the country. Tensions have escalated as Fico’s government defends its policies, while accusing critics of stirring instability. Calls for a no-confidence vote against Fico are growing, though he appears poised to survive due to his thin majority. Critics argue that Fico’s policy shift reflects growing anti-liberal sentiment in Slovakia, compounded by his recent visit to Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin—a rare EU leader engagement since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Protests have also sparked demands for closer ties to NATO and the EU, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy backing the Slovak protesters. Fico has faced internal conflicts within his government, with officials increasingly hostile to EU policies, despite earlier promises to support Kyiv’s transit routes following gas supply halts. His government also stepped up oppositional attacks and reconsidered military aid to Ukraine, drawing widespread criticism last year.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/slovak-protests-build-rebuke-pm-ficos-russian-tilt-2025-01-24