Why is discontent spreading to the Slovak streets amid the Fico Government’s reforms?

Thousands of Slovak protesters have taken to the streets of Bratislava to denounce a series of controversial government decisions which, according to them, are proof of the erosion of the rule of law and of the freedoms democratic in the country.

In the last few days, three events have unleashed frustrations repressed against the coalition government of Robert Ficoin which his left-wing nationalist party Smer has allies, including the ultranationalist Slovak National Party (SNS).

The first was the purge of the directors of the Slovak National Theater and the National Gallery carried out by the Minister of Culture, Martina Šimkovičová, from the SNS. The minister justified her dismissal by alleging “political activism” and priority of foreign artists about Slovaks in cultural institutions. Her opponents have accused her of brutal repression of expression.

Secondly, the maneuvers of the Minister of Justice, Boris Susko, ensured the release from prison of former special prosecutor Dušan Kováčik last Wednesday. In 2022, Kováčik had been sentenced to 14 years, later reduced to eight, for accepting a bribe of 50,000 euros. Fico’s Minister of Justice had presented an extraordinary appeal to the Supreme Court to guarantee his release, a measure that political opponents describe as unprecedented.

Third, in August Fico said that would dissolve the National Anti-Crime Agency (NAKA) – a specialized agency that deals with serious crimes and corruption -, which dealt with cases in which the prime minister himself was involved.

Slovakia, attacked by its own Government

According to the organizers of the protests in Bratislava, about 10,000 people took to the streets on Monday to denounce these measures, which they consider an attack on Slovak democracy. A similar number of people are expected to protest on Tuesday.

“The last few days have shown us that the enormous avalanche that this Government is bringing is a frontal attack on our institutions, the rule of law and Justice and, ultimately, to the freedom of art and culture,” Lucia Yar, MEP from the liberal opposition party Progressive Slovakia, told ‘Euronews’.

“people reactthe opposition reacts, and we all have to clearly oppose what is happening,” he added. Yar’s Progressive Slovakia party has called two extraordinary parliamentary sessions in Bratislava for next week, with a possible motion of no confidence in ministers Šimkovičová and Susko. “The reasons are self-explanatory,” Yar said. “Slovakia is basically under attack by its own government.”

Fico’s Smer party and its two coalition partners currently occupy 79 of the 150 seats in Parliamentso it is unlikely that a motion of censure. But Yar told ‘Euronews’ that discontent is also brewing in the ranks of the Government. “We have heard that there are people in the Government who are not very happy with what is happening, because these measures are unprecedented in the country,” he declared.

Another European MP from Progressive Slovakia, Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová, told ‘Euronews’ that these protests are the response to months of systematic efforts to undermine the rule of law. “This is not about one thing, but about a deep review (by Fico) of the entire system,” he said, adding that Brussels must remain alert to continued breaches of rule of law principles.

Referring to the release of former special prosecutor Dušan Kováčik, with the mediation of the Government, he said: “This directly contrasts with the separation of powers that must exist in a European country that is a member of the European Union”.

Brussels alerts to Fico’s reforms

It is not the first time that Prime Minister Fico has been forced to deal with the outbreak of massive protests against his Executive. Already in 2018, Fico was forced to dimit amid a wave of numerous protests sparked by the murder of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his girlfriend, Martina Kušnírová.

Today, protesters’ complaints point to the growing concern about democratic regression since Fico returned to power as prime minister – for the third time in his political career – last October. Fico, left-wing nationalisthas managed to delicately handle its fiercely nationalist policies and its skeptical stances towards the West, while avoiding serious repercussions from Brussels.

In May he narrowly avoided aattempted murder when was shot at point blank range in the stomach while greeting his supporters in the town of Handlová. In recent months, he has promoted controversial judicial reforms, such as changes to the Penal Code and the dissolution of the Special Prosecutor’s Office. These measures have caused strong criticism and protests during the winter months.

The Government has also been criticized for its reform of the public radio and television station ‘RTVS’ – which, according to the Prime Minister, was being used as weapon against his Executive– to create a new radio and television, ‘SVTR’. However, the most controversial parts of the reform were abandoned after criticism from Brussels.

ADVERTISING

The EU executive has so far rejected speculation that could freeze community funds to Slovakia in response to setbacks, as it has done in the past to punish the Viktor Orbán’s government in Hungarystating in July that he prioritized “dialogue.”

But experts say that Brussels finds it increasingly difficult to turn a blind eye in the face of the series of divisive reforms promoted by Fico. “The European Commission has been very careful not to attack the (Slovak) government, and that has been made much more difficult by the recent assassination attempt on Fico himself,” Anton Spisak, political analyst at the Center for European Reform.

“They have to draw a very careful line between legitimately criticizing the Government’s actions, which are at odds with some of the fundamental principles of the EU, and at the same time not giving in to hatred against Fico himself.” “But I think that with these latest actions, which seem like a very open and blatant attack against the institutions of the State, the Commission will have to act sooner or later,” he predicted.

‘Euronews’ has contacted the European Commission to ask for a comment, but have not yet received a response.

ADVERTISING