Slovaks took to the streets in over 20 locations to happily protest the president’s pro-Russia scheme after Prime Minister Robert Fico claimed there were plans to intensify anti-government demonstrations into an attempted coup.
Late on Friday evening, people quietly gather at Freedom Square in Bratislava, the investment of Slovakia, to protest against the government of Prime Minister Robert Fico.
The environment is relaxed. People are streaming into the plaza from all directions, carrying banner and the colors of Slovakia, the EU and even NATO. Their message is clear: Slovakia belongs in Europe.
This isn’t the first protest of its kind being held in Bratislava. The most recent demonstrations have been held regularly ever since, starting on December 23 and ending one day after the prime minister’s shock trip to Russia.
One thing that the protesters around all agree on is that Slovakia does not pertain to Russia. Some people believe that Fico’s pre-Christmas meeting with Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, was a crime.
Slovakia has a NATO membership since 2002, and it first formally incorporated the Union in 2004.
People happily demand that Slovakia remain a part of these international companies and that the government stop undermining its international standing in more than 20 cities across the nation.
Fighting for politics — once
” I feel really disappointed by our state”, says a 47-year-old activist named Richard who has tied an International symbol around his shoulders. ” When I was 12 years old, I took to the streets with my father, protesting against socialism in November 1989, and here I am, fighting for democracy, when again”, he tells DW.
The square’s population is growing faster by the day. People of all ages have come and are joining in the chants of” Enough of Fico”,” We are Europe”,” Shame” and” Treason”. Some are urging Fico to resign as prime minister.
” I feel unhappy about what is happening in this region and the persons who rule it, and I want to voice my opinion”, says 26-year-old Alexandra. She claims that the primary leader’s claims of increased risk and turmoil the day before did not turn her off. ” I have feared for my protection always since Fico won the election”, she says.
Speak of an alleged revolution
On Thursday, the day before presentations, President Peter Pellegrini convened a meeting of the country’s Security Council, claiming he had been given critical information about a danger to the state’s protection.
There are groups of people who want to aggravate the country’s organizations and strike its institutions, according to Pellegrini, adding that these teams are being coordinated from overseas.
Fico made pretty similar says, claiming that some organizations were reportedly planning a revolution. He claimed that the coup attempt is intended to result in the state falling and the electorate becoming ineffective through political parliamentary elections.
Revolution declare vehemently rejected by demonstrators
” It’s pretty difficult to relate to such hallucinations”, said Lucia Stasselova, one of the administrators of the opposition in Bratislava, away of Friday’s opposition. Nothing in the president’s or primary minister’s statement is accurate.
” It’s what all of them say”, added Marian Kulich, another of the movement’s promoters. ” Subscribe to Erdogan in Turkey, Orban in Hungary, Irakli Kobakhidze in Georgia, Serbia, they all use the same tale. He told DW that he thought Slovakia is just one of the nations submitting to the Moscow plan.
The political organization Harmony to Ukraine, which was founded shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, includes both Stasselova and Kulich. It is currently running for office in Slovakia to promote politics.
” We started to organize the demonstrations in Bratislava, and gently, other towns began to integrate with us. More than 20 cities and towns are now involved. The demonstrations in each area are organized by various people”, said Stasselova.
60, 000 take part in Bratislava only
The rally proceeds easily and peacefully without violence and without a single attempted coup, aside from a short brief interruption brought on by a power outage on stage.
Just a few days before the rally, DW spoke with the organizers, who stated they were anticipating about 30 000 people to attend. According to the majority of media outlets, about 60 000 people signed up for the Bratislava opposition, or four days as many as they did the previous opposition, which took place two weeks ago.
However, the number of demonstrations taking place in other cities likewise increased. Not just the capital. In Banska Bystrica, for instance, presence on Friday was up to 10, 000 from 6, 000 two weeks ago.
However, some internet sources estimated that a full of 100, 000 persons took to the streets of Slovakia’s places in protest on Friday.
On Tuesday, Fico faced a no-confidence voting in the Czech parliament. The criticism withdrew its no-confidence activity in protest when the prime minister quickly requested that the session be held in secret because he would be sharing sensitive information with the parliament.
It has stated that it will hold a new no-confidence voting soon, and it is now calling for a new week-long legislative session.
Members of the opposition said Fico read a report from the intelligence agency SIS ( Slovak Information Service ), which raised concerns about an uprising akin to the Maidan Revolution in Ukraine in 2014, which led to the ouster of President Viktor Yanukovych.
A’ paranoid’ excellent secretary
Opposition leader Michal Simecka, head of the Democratic Slovakia group, called the prime minister’s talk “paranoid”.
” I’m afraid that the prime minister is suffering from fantasies”, he said. ” He sees items that don’t exist. There’s no other reason I may think of. But, this is my lesson from his speech”.
Some Fico’s critics claim that the report contains no really key information, and that some claim that the SIS is being used for political purposes.
” The SIS is being abused. According to senator Maria Kolikova of the center-right progressive Liberty and Solidarity party, “it serves a political function of this state, it spreads anger and fear of the government’s critics,”
Another opposition is already on the cards for February 6. According to Stasselova of Peace for Ukraine,” the opposition will persist as long as the people want to rally.” ” It will depend on the steps of Fico’s case, their remarks, their politicians”.
