This Thursday, January 18, more than 25,000 people gathered at the National Uprising Square in the old town of Bratislava to denounce in particular the reform of the Penal Code initiated by the new government of Robert Fico. Rallies were also held in several provincial towns.
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With our special correspondent in Bratislava, Sylvie Noel
The abolition of the prosecutor’s office dedicated to high-level corruption cases, the easing of sanctions in cases of corruption as well as the removal of whistleblower protection for police officers is denounced by Brussels and the Slovak opposition. The demonstrations, which began in December, resumed last Thursday, after the end-of-year holidays, with mobilization which did not weaken. On the contrary, record participation numbers were recorded over the last two Thursdays.
“ Fico in prison »: the slogans echo on the packed National Uprising Square in Bratislava. Barbora, in her forties, who came like in December and like last Thursday accompanied by her friend Lucia, displays her distrust of the Prime Minister, Robert Fico.
“ I’m too old to trust them, because I remember the time when Mr. Fico was already in power, 12 years ago. He is back and he is doing things that are not correct, not only in the justice system, but also the police and other institutions and I do not want to live in a country where this kind of thing happens. »
For Maksim, an art student who came with his friend Bianca, it is a duty to demonstrate because the Minister of Culture has banned many artistic events, particularly related to the LGBTQ issue, and he fears the cancellation of concerts soon.
Along with the name of the Prime Minister, another was widely whistled on Thursday evening: that of Peter Pelligrini who is running in the presidential election on March 23 with the support of Robert Fico’s party. The demonstrators made no secret of their support for the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yvan Korčok.