Fri Feb 07 20:19:34 UTC 2025: ## Tens of Thousands Demand Fico’s Resignation Amid Pro-Russia Shift
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia – Massive protests have engulfed Slovakia, with tens of thousands demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Robert Fico over his perceived pro-Russia policy shift. Friday’s demonstrations, the largest since 2018, saw an estimated 42,000 to 45,000 people fill Bratislava’s Freedom Square, chanting slogans such as “Resign, resign,” “Slovakia is Europe,” and “Russian agent.”
The protests, which have been ongoing weekly, follow Fico’s recent visit to Moscow – a rare trip by an EU leader since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Fico’s actions have sparked outrage, as he has advocated for an end to Slovakian support for Ukraine, criticized EU sanctions against Russia, and opposed Ukraine’s NATO membership. He has also been accused of suppressing civil society and LGBTQ+ rights.
Protesters, like 39-year-old Barbora Kabinova, emphasized their commitment to EU values and democratic principles. Seventy-year-old Juraj Kadlec refuted Fico’s claims that the demonstrations are a foreign-backed coup attempt, asserting they represent the will of the Slovakian people.
Fico, who survived an assassination attempt in May, has accused protesters of collaborating with Ukraine and foreign entities to overthrow his government, providing minimal evidence to support his claims. The scale of the demonstrations and their echoes of the 2018 protests, which led to the collapse of a previous Fico government, signal significant public discontent and a potential political crisis.
First Piper 