Thousands of people in Bratislava and other Slovak cities rallied on Friday demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Robert Fico and protesting against a foreign policy viewed as aligning the country with Russia. Protests, occurring biweekly since early January, were triggered by a summit between Fico and Russian President Vladimir Putin, marking a rare visit to Moscow by an EU member state following Russia's incursion into Ukraine three years ago.
Chants of "Slovakia is Europe" and "Enough of Fico" echoed through the crowds in Bratislava. According to Dennik N news website, about 12,000 demonstrators gathered in the capital, a decrease from the previous 40,000. Simultaneous rallies took place in over 40 other cities.
The demonstrations coincided with the seventh anniversary of journalist Jan Kuciak's murder, which initiated extensive protests against perceived government corruption leading to Fico's resignation at the time. Fico returned to power following the 2023 election, raising concerns among the progressive opposition and others due to proposed alterations to criminal laws and the public broadcasting sector.
Fico's foreign policy decisions, including ceasing military aid to Ukraine, have caused tension with Kyiv. He justifies his approach by stating its balanced outreach in all directions. Despite facing calls for his resignation from protesters, Fico, a prominent figure in Slovak politics, has accused the pro-Western liberal opposition, NGOs, and media of plotting against Slovakia.
During a visit to the United States for the Conservative Political Action Conference, Fico met with Elon Musk, a government efficiency adviser, who criticized the redirection of U.S. aid funds to what he described as political interference in Slovakia. Fico claimed assurance from Musk that funding for "anti-government" media and NGOs was coming to an end, emphasizing his resolve not to resign in response to protester demands.