Slovakia erupts: Mass protests demand prime minister's exit

On Friday evening, Slovakia became the scene of widespread anti-government protests held in over 50 cities. In the capital city, Bratislava, more than 40,000 people gathered at Freedom Square, and nationwide, the number of participants reached around 100,000. Once again, demonstrators called for Prime Minister Robert Fico to step down.

Freedom Square in Bratislava, located near the government's headquarters, filled with a crowd even before the protest began. Organizers reiterated their demands from two weeks ago, calling for Fico's resignation. Among the chanted slogans were: "Resignation," "Ashamed of Fico," "Treason," and "Russian agent." The main slogan of the demonstration was "Slovakia is Europe."

Prime Minister Fico has repeatedly accused protest organizers, opposition parties, and the media of attempting to overthrow the government. Politicians from the ruling coalition claimed that the Georgian Legion, which Fico alleged was behind protests in Ukraine and Georgia, is supposedly orchestrating the coup attempt. Fico emphasized that, contrary to the organizers' claims, the government does not plan to exit the European Union.

Anti-government demonstrations began last December after Prime Minister Fico's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. A few weeks later, Fico defended his party colleague Tibor Gaspar, who in a televised debate suggested the possibility of Slovakia leaving the EU.

Further demonstrations are planned for two weeks from now, on the seventh anniversary of the murder of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancée. In 2018, Prime Minister Fico was held politically accountable for this crime, leading to his resignation from the position in March 2018 under the pressure of mass protests.