In the face of protests in Serbia, it may seem that nothing is happening in Slovakia. It's all appearances. Thousands of citizens are gathered on the streets of successive Slovak cities. Their opposition is not a consequence to 1 decision by the Prime Minister, but a cry against the full strategy of contempt and hypocrisy which was given to them by Robert Fica's 4th government.
The ruling coalition is doing everything to add another reason to the protests and invitation further social groups to leave their homes. Here are any reasons why Slovaks have been gathering on the streets of cities all 2 weeks for a year and a half.
Slovakia drifts east
The direction in which Slovakia is heading present is increasingly worrying – not only among experts but, above all, among citizens themselves. Despite membership of the European Union and NATO, Robert Fica's government is increasingly turning towards Russia. It is not only a single motion – it is simply a policy of organized rapprochement with the Kremlin.
Slovak parliamentarians visit Moscow, the minister of culture resumes cultural cooperation with Russia and Belarus, and the leading politicians of the ruling organization without a shadow of shame repeat narratives taken alive from Russian media. Right now, erstwhile Ukraine is fighting not only for its independence, but besides for the future of the full region.
Slovak abroad Minister Juraj Blanár in the global arena has already become known as 1 who blindly repeats the Russian communicative of genocide Russian-speaking population in Ukraine. He's got at least 3 meetings in his account with Sergei Lavrow. Upon his arrival at the ministry, he ordered a cleanup to be a savings search, but more than 100 fresh employees were hired. Many of them are graduates of the Moscow State Institute of global Relations (MGIMO) or the University of Petersburg.
The loudest symbol of this drift was Robert Fica's mysterious visit to Moscow on December 22, 2024. The gathering with Vladimir Putin was neither announced nor commented on by the Slovak authorities – the only origin of information was the spokesperson for the Kremlin Dmitry Pieskov. To this day, it is not known how the Prime Minister got there (all government aircraft were standing at that time in Bratislava), what the conversation was about and what the results were. Even the HLAS organization – the Smer coalitionist – was amazed to hear from Fica.
The situation became so absurd that there was speculation on the network that the Prime Minister was not taken hostage in Moscow due to the fact that after visiting the Kremlin, the ground collapsed under it. A fewer days later, Fico found himself in Vietnam, where he slept in the most costly flat in the country. Details remained a mystery again, and the Prime Minister himself claimed that it was a "private journey", although as it turned out, there he besides met with local authorities.
After 1 year of efforts by Blanár and the full government of Fica Slovakia was pushed to the side track, where it is now located together with Hungary. But even Orbán does not treat Slovakia as an ally, due to the fact that at global meetings Hungarians give distant the atlas of the world, in which Slovakia is again part of Hungary.
Just after returning from Moscow, Deputy Marshal Tibor Gašpar publicly statedthat there is the anticipation of Slovakia from NATO and EU structures, as Robert Fico then confirmed. In April 2025 on the EU speech She said besides the Euro MP of Smeru Judita Laššáková.
This chaos and deficiency of transparency is not just a substance of governance kind – it is simply a real threat to the safety of the country. For Fica pro-Russian rhetoric is simply a tool – a way to mobilise your electorate, break down political capital and distract from interior problems.
Coalition of chaos
It took a year since Robert Fica returned to power, so that Slovak politics would again start to match a farce from the regulation of Igor Matovič. The government of Smeru, Hlasu and the nationalist SNS was to be the guarantor of stability, and alternatively provided a performance of interior brawls, individual games and decision-making paralysis.
The biggest manager of this political theatre is SNS leader Andrej Danko, who, despite his modest representation in parliament, managed to turn his organization into a lever to settle his own interests. Key positions in the state – with the function of the talker of Parliament at the head – have been blocked for weeks. But it is not the end – the rebellion in the SNS and interior friction in Hlas only deepened the crisis, which began to endanger the existence of the coalition itself.
Fico pretended for a long time that he had no problem, until he yet had to pay for the peace – giving 2 ministries to those who had previously broken his coalition.
This is how the ministry of athletics and tourism fell to Rudolf Huliak – a politician who himself caused a break in the SNS. The Minister of Investment, Regional improvement and Information Technology was Samuel Migaľ, a erstwhile MP of Hlasu who had previously complained that he felt “very bad”, voting for laws hitting the regulation of law. present she seems to feel better – especially with a ministerial briefcase in her hand.
And this is just the beginning. SNS ministers seem to operate without any control. In Martin Šimkovičová's cultural resort, he casts his friends. Offices full of unqualified people, freezing of funds for cultural events and deficiency of funds even for the preservation of castles. But the minister found money for... a fresh arrangement for the state anthem. It's just not constitutional. Its creator – composer Oskar Rózsa – announced that "the anthem is not for all." These words hurtfully and rightly reflect the attitude of the current government towards citizens.
It's not better in the environment department. Minister Tomáš Taraba decided to solve the wildlife problem with weapons. Last year 144 bears were killed – but that is not enough. Now Taraba wants to kill another 350, or even a 3rd of the full population of brown bears in the country. The minister ignores the appeals of scientists, scares society, and nature defenders call "ecoterrorists" and claims that they spend millions of euros on "blown" specified as protecting forests, animals and plants. According to the government line, alternatively of protecting nature, the minister spreads hatred and contempt. At the same time, it consistently ignores the European Union and the warnings of experts that shooting bears will not solve the problem of attacks.
Combating Democracy and Justice
After the election, it was clear that Fico would want to return to the “old tracks”. The fresh SMER governments have brought corruption and oligarchisation of the country, and Fico himself and his Home Minister (now Minister of Defence) Robert Kali accused of setting up and moving an organized crime group. Now the Slovak Prime Minister one more time undermines the foundations of the regulation of law and strips them of brick by brick.
He started with justice. Daniel Lipšic, peculiar prosecutor and political opponent of Fica, became a symbol for the government of “political prosecutor”. But Smer does not just want to cancel it – he wants to destruct the full office of the peculiar Prosecutor's Office, which deals with the most serious criminal cases, including corruption.
Home Secretary Matúš Šutaj Eštok (Hlas) launched investigations against police and prosecutors investigating people associated with with the erstwhile Smeru Agreement, including on Purgatory. It afraid the usage of police for political and private purposes. In the background – oligarch Norbert Bödör and erstwhile police chief, present MP Smeru, Tibor Gašpar. Officers who did not agree to sweep things under the carpet were demoted. The Minister of Justice released Dušan Kováčik – a erstwhile peculiar prosecutor who did not bring a single indictment during his rule, becoming a symbol of the impunity of the people of power and mafia. He went to jail for accepting a $50,000 bribe – present he is free again.
People return to the state institutions with corruption charges and even convictions. The program of state housing for rent will be manage the female convicted For real property fraud. Oligarch Norbert Bödör, on whom there are many criminal charges, appears for a chat at the Prime Minister's office. And the fresh government mascot is the patostreamer spreading conspiracy and disinformation, Daniel Bombic – the Prime Minister's advisor is his attorney, and the Smer organization pays his apartment. Among Slovaks there is simply a saying that if you are not punished, there is nothing to look for in state institutions.
It's part of a bigger plan. The government reduces the penalties for corruption, eliminates the protection of whistleblowers, and pushes through changes to the Criminal Code, which in practice supply amnesty to thousands of convicted – including prominent politicians and businessmen.
At the same time, an offensive against social organizations is ongoing. The fresh law – written like Russian – is to recognise NGOs as lobbyist groups and to force them into bureaucratic absurdity under the threat of massive penalties. This is the government's revenge on citizens who inactive have the courage to resist.
Official pandemic agent Peter Kotlár convinces that mRNA vaccines turn people into ‘GMO corn’. Fico defends him and announces lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies. Kotlár is simply a figurehead whose prime minister pulls out whenever you request to cover another topics or drop support. Charlatanry and conspiracy theories replaced discipline and common sense in Slovakia.
The revision of criminal law besides has applicable effects: the border between offence and crime has increased from EUR 266 to EUR 700. A wave of theft that is besides affected by the state of society.
Poverty for the majority, privileges for the few
Slovak society is poor. The latest statistic of the statistical office show that in terms of purchasing power parity, the Slovaks are at the bottom of the EU table. Single, childless citizens gain EUR 1230 net on average, while the EU average is EUR 2294. Families with children have allowances and reliefs to make up to EUR 1776, but this is much little than the EU average for this group, amounting to EUR 2761.
Meanwhile, as many as 980 1000 Slovaks – or 18.3% of the population – live on the border of poverty. For them, 509 euros per period is not a social minimum, but a lifeline. In addition, the rising cost of housing – both buying and hiring become unattainable for many.
There's something else to live for. As of 1 January, the government changed VAT rates: food was subject to a lower tax, but many another goods and services went up. As a consequence – although the government talks about a ‘reduction’ – the prices in stores soar upwards. In March 2025 inflation reached 4.3%, almost twice the average in the euro area. Slovakia present has the fastest price increase in the full euroland. The butter has become symbolic: 250 grams already cost over 4 euros. That's all to patch up budget holes.
Except these holes only work at the expense of average citizens. Financial "consolidation" concerns only private taxpayers – the government protects itself from savings. Slovakia present has a second-largest budget deficit in the euro area, but the Prime Minister and his ministers do not intend to tighten their belts. On the contrary, in just a year and a half they raised their salaries for the second time. As of April, the president will gain EUR 18 000 per period – about as much as the average Slovak throughout the year. The Prime Minister is going to pay $12,000. Why not?
This motion is not only a symbol of arrogance, it is an open declaration: “We are not here for you.”
It's not over. The government, modeling itself in Hungary, introduced a fresh financial transaction taxation in the same "consolidation" framework, covering all transfers coming out of business and business accounts. Although it has not been in force since April 1, it has already caused chaos. The prices of products and services will go up again – due to the fact that all tribute yet hits the consumer's wallet. But the effects are deeper: in many stores the anticipation of paying with a card disappears due to the fact that the owners do not want to bear additional costs – a commission for the terminal operator plus a fresh taxation is besides much. Cash returns, comfort disappears, absurdities multiply.
And not only does the government not help, but it is actively harmful.
For large companies, it's a signal: possibly it's worth moving the business elsewhere. This is already happening – in 2 days 3 large factories announced the closure of Slovak branches, more than a 1000 people will lose their jobs. For tiny businesses, it's frequently be or not be. due to the fact that if, after paying all the contributions, taxes (including transaction tax) and fees, there is nothing left, why run a company at all?
And this is only the first phase of fixing a gap in the budget at the expense of citizens. The next 1 will include, among another things, an increase in the property tax.
That's why the Slovaks protest
Fico's been in charge for a year and a half. Since then, Slovaks have protested nearly 40 times. Initially, protests were organised by the opposition, but they did not have much response, especially those distant from the capital. The breakthrough occurred after Fica visited Moscow – then more than 100,000 people spontaneously came to the streets of Slovak cities. These have been the biggest protests since murder of investigative writer Ján Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnírova in 2018.
The attitude of the government raises increasing opposition, especially among the younger Slovaks, on which the Prime Minister does not play a charter of sentiment until the time of communism. Slovaks fear the failure of sovereignty, the marginalisation of the country internationally and the return to a time erstwhile decisions about their future were made in Moscow.
They protest against the full strategy that shows them the mediate finger. Who despises their regular efforts, ignores their needs, dismantles control institutions, gags the media, weakens the courts, and the state treats them as a private farm for “its people”.
Slovaks protest due to the fact that they do not want to live in a state of lawlessness, where loyalty to the organization counts more than law, justice and civic decency. They protest due to the fact that they remember what the deficiency of control of power leads to – how easy mafia agreements grow in specified conditions, and the state, alternatively of protecting citizens, starts protecting criminals. They protest due to the fact that they do not want democracy to be just a sign behind which there is authoritarianism and impunity.
