Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico rejected the calls for his resignation on Saturday, following large protests against his government’s shift towards closer ties with Russia.
Organizers estimated that around 60,000 people took part in a rally in the capital, Bratislava, on Friday, while media reports indicated a total of approximately 100,000 across multiple cities, marking the largest protests since Fico returned to power in 2023. The protests were approaching the scale of those in 2018, which were triggered by the murder of an investigative journalist and led to Fico’s resignation during a previous term.
The recent demonstrations follow Fico’s secretive trip to Moscow in December to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, a rare visit for a European Union leader since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
In a Saturday interview, Fico responded to the protests, stating, “The government can only be changed if there are elections.”
His leftist-nationalist government accused progressive opposition groups of planning to escalate protests and overthrow the government unlawfully. These groups, including the civic organization Mier Ukrajine (Peace to Ukraine), denied the allegations and have planned further protests for February 7.
Critics argue that Fico’s government is undermining democratic values while aligning foreign policy with Russia, drifting away from EU and NATO allies. Despite criticism, Fico has defended his administration’s approach, claiming it aims to maintain good relations with all sides while acknowledging that EU and NATO membership still guide key policies.
