**Slovakia‘s Protests: A Fight for Europe**
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in Slovakia on March 7, protesting the country’s pro-Russian policies under Prime Minister Robert Fico. The protesters voiced concerns that Slovakia is drifting away from the European Union and its allies.
**Fico’s Government Moves Closer to Russia**
Since autumn 2023, a coalition of nationalist, EU-skeptic, and pro-Russian parties has held power in Bratislava. Fico’s government has demonstrated a clear alignment with Moscow, including false claims about Nazi troops fighting in Ukraine and the first prime minister interview on Russian state television.
**Concerns Over Slovakia Leaving the EU**
The liberal opposition party Freedom and Solidarity proposed enshrining Slovakia’s EU membership in the constitution. However, Tibor Gašpar, a Smer politician, suggested that Slovakia should consider leaving the EU if its rules were to change. This response has unsettled many citizens.
**Mass Protests and Frustration**
The frustration has fueled mass protests, where demonstrators wave Ukrainian flags and rally under the slogan “Peace for Ukraine.” Despite these protests, Prime Minister Fico has responded with conspiracy theories, claiming that NGOs active in Ukraine and Georgia were plotting to overthrow him.
**A Threat to Democracy?**
Fico’s government has weakened democratic checks and balances by amending criminal law, restructuring public media, and allowing a nationalist culture minister to wage a political war against artists. Despite these troubling developments, Slovakia remains freer and more pluralistic than Hungary under Viktor Orbán.
**The Key Difference: Stability**
While Fico’s coalition is fragile and divided, Orbán has ruled since 2010 with a strong parliamentary majority. Some MPs from Fico’s smaller coalition partners have already left the government, but they have not yet voted against him.
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