Slovak Opposition Rallies Against Fico Despite Coup Warnings

Tens of thousands protest in Slovakia, challenging PM Fico’s governance and foreign policy while he warns of a potential coup from opposition groups.

Tens of thousands of citizens across Slovakia are taking to the streets in a remarkable show of dissent against Prime Minister Robert Fico's government. These demonstrations come on the heels of Fico's alarming warnings that the protests could be a front for a coup orchestrated by opposition provocateurs.

The rallies are happening in approximately 25 cities and towns throughout Slovakia, marking a significant escalation compared to a similar protest held just two weeks prior. Demonstrators are expressing their discontent with what they perceive as Fico's systematic erosion of the nation's institutions and culture, along with a concerning drift in Slovakia's positions within the EU and NATO. Increasingly vocal against Ukraine and seeking closer ties with Moscow, Fico claims his approach is aimed at establishing a "sovereign" foreign policy that considers interests in all directions.

While Fico insists he has no intention of withdrawing Slovakia from the EU or NATO, his critics are unconvinced. The website Dennik N estimates that around 100,000 people participated in the protests, with estimates of 40,000 in the capital alone. Other significant turnouts included 10,000 in Banska Bystrica and 15,000 in Košice, where the latter sought to avoid overlap with another planned event.

Despite Fico's assertions that the protests may incite violence and public disorder, reports indicate a peaceful demonstration, debunking fears of provocateur-led chaos. Earlier, Fico alleged that foreign "instructors" were aiding the opposition's efforts to unseat him and mentioned plans for their deportation. Following this, he called for a session of the security council, pointing to supposed evidence that links foreign meddling to unrest.

Furthermore, he highlighted a cyber attack on Slovakia's health insurer as an alleged tactic to undermine his governance, linking it to organized opposition forces, although external media evaluations surfaced suggesting it was merely a phishing attempt, not a coordinated cyber assault.

As tensions rise, the government faced scrutiny due to accusations of skewed intelligence operations, with the domestic intelligence agency SIS led by individuals connected to Fico’s Smer party. Opposition factions continue to question the credibility of the SIS while defending their right to protest against national policies they view as detrimental.

The political crisis in Slovakia deepens, leaving its citizens concerned about their democratic processes and the direction of their nation.