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Thousands protest Slovak leader Fico over whistleblower office closure and penal code changes
Protesters oppose government moves to dismantle the Whistleblower Protection Office and limit evidence rules, claiming these changes weaken anti-corruption measures, Progressive Slovakia said.
- Dec 16, thousands rallied across Slovakia to protest judicial changes critics say erode the rule of law, with protesters filling Bratislava Freedom Square and demonstrations in eight other cities.
- Last week, lawmakers loyal to Prime Minister Robert Fico cancelled the Whistleblower Protection Office and banned evidence from cooperating suspects, altering crown-witness rules.
- People marched waving Slovak and EU flags and chanting slogans like `Enough of Fico` and `Shame!`, while placards reading `Fico's government is helping Mafia` filled the square.
- Despite calls for a veto, the government parliamentary majority can override President Peter Pellegrini's signature, while European Commission scrutiny followed Tuesday's rallies, among the biggest since last February.
- Critics compare Slovakia's shift to Hungary and note László Gubók, leader of the Hungarian Alliance representing a 450,000-strong Hungarian minority, joined protests as opposition charged changes favor Tibor Gaapar.
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Thousands protest Slovak leader Fico over whistleblower office closure and penal code changes
Thousands have rallied across Slovakia to protest Prime Minister Robert Fico's latest controversial moves to dismantle an independent office that protects whistleblowers and amend the penal code.
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Bratislava - Thousands of people gathered in ten Slovak cities today to demonstrate against the policies of Prime Minister Robert Fico's government. According to the aktuality.sk website, the protests were a reaction, among other things, to the fact that the governing coalition's MPs last week overrode President Peter Pellegrini's veto and again approved the abolition of the current whistleblower protection office.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources17
Leaning Left7Leaning Right3Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution47% Left
Bias Distribution
- 47% of the sources lean Left
47% Left
L 47%
C 33%
R 20%
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