The PS pointed out that the government of Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smér) has completely lost its inhibitions after the recent presidential elections, in which the coalition candidate Peter Pellegrini (Voice) won, and is trying to control the public media.
“At the same time, public and independent media are absolutely crucial for a healthy democracy. Fico is afraid of them; and like all autocrats, he wants to destroy them,” said the organizers of the protest.
The strongest opposition party wants to demonstrate with a protest that Slovaks will not let the government “jump on their heads”. He opposes Fico’s government’s plans to abolish the public Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS) and the threat to the second pension pillar.
“Let’s not let Fico tear our country to pieces. Let’s not let him pull us out of the European Union. Let’s show him that there are many of us and we won’t back down,” said PS chairman Michal Šimečka.
Photo: Ivan Vilček, Novinky
Chairman of Progressive Slovakia Michal Šimečka
According to the head of the opposition, Fico is making a “cheat” of 15 billion euros (375 billion crowns), which people have saved in the second pillar of pension insurance. “If you try to rob people, we will oppose you,” Šimečka told the government.
After last year’s parliamentary elections, the PS organized anti-government protests throughout Slovakia together with the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) and the Freedom and Solidarity party (SaS). This time the protest is taking place only in Bratislava and without the participation of KDH and SaS representatives. Šimečka emphasized that in the future they are ready to organize joint opposition protests again.
“They pretend that no rules apply to them.” Anti-government protests took place again in Slovakia
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Tags: protest Ficos government place Bratislava
