Tens of thousands of people took to the streets across Slovakia on January 24, 2025, in one of the largest recent waves of anti-government protest against Prime Minister Robert Fico.
The demonstrations were spread across 28 locations, with organizers saying 60,000 people attended the main protest in Bratislava. According to the AP report in the packet, the rallies were driven by anger over Fico’s pro-Russia stance, his recent trip to Moscow to meet President Vladimir Putin and his comments suggesting Slovakia could change course on foreign policy.
Protesters chanted slogans such as “Slovakia is not Russia, Slovakia is Europe,” “We have enough of Fico” and “Resign.” The message was not only about one trip or one speech. It reflected broader alarm at a leader who has repeatedly clashed with the European mainstream since returning to power.
Fico’s critics say he has undermined Slovakia’s support for Ukraine and signaled sympathy for Moscow at a moment when much of Europe remains united against Russia’s war. AP notes that since coming back to office, he has ended military aid for Ukraine, criticized EU sanctions on Russia and vowed to block Ukraine’s path toward NATO membership.
The protests also grew after Fico accused organizers and the opposition of being linked to foreigners planning a coup. He cited a secret intelligence report in parliament, but opposition figures dismissed the claims and said the country’s intelligence service was being used for political purposes. The allegation may have energized public skepticism rather than calming it, since the rallies remained peaceful even as tensions rose.
That matters because the demonstrations have now become both a policy protest and a test of public confidence in Fico’s leadership. His government has framed the unrest as a serious threat, while demonstrators say they are responding to his own actions and rhetoric.
The AP report says many of the protests have been organized by the Peace for Ukraine movement. The scale of the latest rallies, especially their spread beyond Bratislava, suggests the opposition is not limited to the capital or to a narrow activist base.
Fico remains a polarizing figure in Slovak politics. He survived an assassination attempt in May 2024, and his return to power after winning office on a pro-Russia and anti-American platform has heightened the stakes of every major public clash. His supporters see a strong leader challenging Western orthodoxy; his opponents see a threat to Slovakia’s place in Europe.
What happened on January 24 shows that the dispute is far from settled. Slovakia’s streets filled with people pushing back against what they see as a dangerous pivot away from the European Union and NATO, while the government responded with warnings about instability and hidden enemies.
For now, the protests appear to be growing rather than fading. Their breadth across the country suggests that Fico’s foreign-policy line is no longer simply a matter of diplomatic debate. It has become a domestic political fault line with enough force to mobilize tens of thousands at a time.
