“We understand that this country’s political leadership struggles to imagine that anyone could act freely and independently without seeking personal gain,” said actor Milan Maštalír, summarizing the frustrations of many Slovaks.
On the same day, protests erupted in more than 30 towns across Slovakia, organized by the civic platform “Slovakia is Europe.” These rallies were in response to a sharp pivot in foreign policy by Prime Minister Robert Fico’s government, which has taken a markedly pro-Moscow stance since assuming office in October 2023. Protesters not only called for good governance and a more transparent foreign policy but also demanded Fico’s resignation.
Fico, a four-time Slovak prime minister and former member of the Communist Party in the Czechoslovak era, has drawn criticism for actions that reflect his growing alignment with Russia. On December 22, he made headlines by meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow—an unusual move for a European leader given Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine since 2022. Under his leadership, Slovakia has ceased military support for Ukraine and actively opposed EU sanctions on Russia.
Adding fuel to the controversy, Tibor Gašpár, a member of Fico’s Smer-SD party, suggested on January 17 in an interview with public broadcaster STVR that Slovakia keep open the possibility of a “drastic solution” such as leaving the European Union. Such rhetoric, unthinkable just a short time ago from mainstream politicians, has prompted widespread concern among pro-West and pro-democracy Slovaks.
The growing backlash has energized liberal voices within the country. In the city of Prešov, located about 100 kilometers from Slovakia’s border with Ukraine, nearly 7,000 people gathered to show their opposition to the government. Among them was Eva Kulová, an 84-year-old attendee who told the crowd, “The specter of a coup haunts them [the Fico government] day and night.”
The protests reflect a deepening divide within Slovak society, as supporters of liberal democratic values push back against the government’s shift toward authoritarianism and closer ties with Russia.
Leave a Reply