Tens of thousands of Slovaks have marked the anniversary of the 1989 Velvet Revolution with nationwide protests against Prime Minister Robert Fico and his government’s policies, turning a symbolic day in the country’s modern history into a show of discontent with its current direction.
Demonstrations and marches were held in dozens of towns and cities on Monday, with the largest gathering in Bratislava’s Freedom Square, despite persistent rain. Protesters chanted “We have had enough of Fico”, “We want change” and “Resign”, while many carried Slovak and EU flags. One prominent banner quoted the late Czechoslovak and Czech president Václav Havel’s slogan from 1989:
“Truth and love must prevail over lies and hatred.”
The protests coincided with the 36th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, the mass student-led movement that brought an end to communist rule in former Czechoslovakia and paved the way for democratic transition and, later, Slovak independence. Traditionally, 17 November has been observed as a public holiday – the Day of the Struggle for Freedom and Democracy – marked by official commemorations and civic events.
This year’s anniversary was the first since Fico’s coalition decided to abolish the 17 November public holiday as part of a wider fiscal package, formally keeping its commemorative status but requiring people to work. The government has presented the move as an austerity measure aimed at shoring up public finances. Opposition parties and organisers of the demonstrations framed it instead as an attempt to downgrade a key symbol of the country’s democratic transition.
Michal Šimečka, leader of the liberal opposition party Progressive Slovakia, addressed the crowd in Bratislava and rejected the government’s explanation. “It has nothing to do with the economy or savings,” he said, arguing that the cancellation signalled disregard for the legacy of 1989. “We value freedom and we will not let it be taken away from us.”
The rallies are the latest in a series of large-scale demonstrations that have taken place in Slovakia since Fico returned to office in late 2023 at the head of a left-wing, nationalist coalition. Previous protests were triggered by government plans to overhaul criminal law and the special prosecution service, as well as by concerns over media legislation and foreign policy.
Foreign and security policy has been a central grievance for many of those on the streets. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Fico has repeatedly distanced Slovakia from the EU mainstream on Ukraine, halting state military aid while permitting commercial arms sales and opposing European initiatives to finance further military support from frozen Russian assets.
The prime minister has also met President Vladimir Putin three times since 2022, most recently in Moscow earlier this year, a rare visit to the Kremlin by an EU leader. He has argued for what he describes as “standard” relations with Russia and has questioned the effectiveness of sanctions and battlefield solutions, positioning himself as a critic of the West’s approach to the war.
A recent remark to students in the eastern city of Poprad further fuelled tensions. Responding to criticism of his stance on Ukraine, Fico told those who disagreed with him that they could go and fight there, a comment widely reported in local media and cited by protest organisers as evidence of a dismissive attitude towards dissent.
Demonstrators and opposition figures have linked these developments to broader worries about the quality of democracy in Slovakia. Civil society groups and media observers point to proposed changes to the criminal justice system, pressure on public broadcasting and attacks on non-governmental organisations as reasons for concern. The government says its reforms are intended to correct what it views as politicised institutions and to pursue a more “sovereign” foreign policy.
Monday’s protests were organised by a loose coalition of civic initiatives, student groups and opposition parties. Estimates of turnout in Bratislava ranged into the tens of thousands, with additional crowds reported in regional centres including Košice, Banská Bystrica and Žilina. Protesters lit up Freedom Square with mobile phone torches, echoing images from past demonstrations over corruption and rule-of-law issues.
The government has so far given no indication that it plans to reverse the cancellation of the holiday or adjust its Ukraine policy. Fico has argued that his coalition received a mandate to change course at the last election and has dismissed criticism from opponents and some EU partners as interference in Slovak domestic affairs.
For many Slovaks, however, the symbolism of protesting on 17 November carries particular weight. The original Velvet Revolution began with student marches in Prague and Bratislava, and its anniversary continues to serve as a reference point for civic mobilisation. By gathering again on that date, participants sought to draw a direct line between the demands voiced in 1989 and current debates over Slovakia’s place in Europe, the rule of law and the direction of its foreign policy.
