Mass protests see tens of thousands rally against Fico's policies and increasing ties with Moscow amid allegations of foreign interference.
**Slovak Protests Intensify as PM Fico Alleges Opposition Conspiracy**
**Slovak Protests Intensify as PM Fico Alleges Opposition Conspiracy**
Tensions rise in Slovakia as Prime Minister Robert Fico claims opposition-linked provocateurs aim to destabilize his government.
Tensions are escalating in Slovakia as tens of thousands of citizens take to the streets in protest against Prime Minister Robert Fico's government. Demonstrating in around 25 towns and cities, the public is defying Fico's warnings that provocateurs connected to the liberal opposition may incite a coup through these protests. Protesters express their discontent with what they see as Fico's undermining of national institutions, EU ties, and NATO relations, citing his growing criticism of Ukraine and stronger connections with Moscow.
Fico contends he is promoting a "sovereign" Slovak foreign policy, maintaining that the country's alliances with the EU and NATO are secure. The site Dennik N estimates participation to be approximately 100,000 nationwide, with at least 40,000 in the capital, Bratislava. Demonstrators also gathered in Banska Bystrica and Kosice, ensuring separate events avoided potential conflicts.
Despite Fico's claims of an impending coup and warnings of provocateurs inciting violence, reports from the protests indicate no significant unrest. Recently, Fico announced that police would begin deporting foreign "instructors" supposedly aiding the opposition in its efforts to unseat him.
Earlier this week, Fico convened a meeting of the national security council, asserting that intelligence agencies had evidence of foreign provocateurs linked to protests in Georgia and Ukraine, supposedly operating within Slovakia. However, trust in the domestic intelligence service, the SIS, is low among opposition members due to its connections with Fico's Smer party.
Highlighting his criticism of opposition activities, Fico described a significant cyberattack on a health insurer as part of an organized effort to dismantle his administration, connecting it to external influences from opposition groups, NGOs, and foreign media. This claim, however, has been contested, with reports indicating that it was merely a phishing attempt rather than a large-scale cyberattack.
As Slovakia grapples with these protests and the implications of Fico's claims, the nation's political landscape remains fraught with tension and uncertainty.
