Slovaks rally against PM Fico’s pro-Russia stance

Thousands of protesters gathered in the Slovak capital on Thursday to voice opposition to Prime Minister Robert Fico’s pro-Russia policies and government austerity measures

The demonstration followed Fico’s recent trip to Beijing, where he attended a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and met Russian President Vladimir Putin for the third time since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Fico has not visited Ukraine or areas affected by the conflict but has repeatedly called for “normalising” relations with Russia.

“This is just a beginning. We have to stop them,” said Alojz Hlina, an organiser from the Freedom and Solidarity opposition party. Another rally organised by the liberal Progressive Slovakia party is planned for Tuesday.

Fico, a polarising figure in Slovak and European politics, returned to power for the fourth time after his Smer (Direction) party won the 2023 parliamentary election with a pro-Russia and anti-American platform. Critics have compared Slovakia under Fico to Hungary under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, describing both as increasingly autocratic.

The protest in Bratislava marks the latest in a series of public demonstrations against Fico’s foreign and domestic policies.

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