Slovaks keep up protests against Fico and mark anniversary of journalist's murder
Summary
BRATISLAVA, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Thousands rallied in Bratislava and other Slovak cities on Friday calling for Prime Minister Robert Fico to resign and keeping up protests against a foreign policy that critics say pulls the country closer to Russia.
Protests have happened every other week since early January, sparked by a December meeting between Fico and Russian President Vladimir Putin, a rare visit to Moscow by a European Union member since Russia's invasion of Ukraine three years ago.
"Slovakia is Europe," crowds in Bratislava chanted, along with cries of "Enough of Fico".
Dennik N news website cited a security expert estimating up to 12,000 people protested in the capital, down from more than 40,000 two weeks ago. Rallies were held in over 40 other cities.
The rallies on Friday also marked seven years since the murder of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak, whose killing set off weeks of mass protests against perceived public corruption that led to Fico's resignation as prime minister at the time.
Fico returned to power with a 2023 election victory and his leftist-nationalist government has raised worries among the progressive opposition and others due to moves to change criminal codes and revamp the public broadcaster.
Fico ended state military aid to Ukraine and is in dispute with Kyiv over the end of Russian gas transit this year. He defends his foreign policy by saying it reaches all directions.
Fico, long a dominant force in Slovak politics, has often waged a war of words against the pro-Western liberal opposition, non-governmental organisations and media, accusing them of conspiring against Slovakia.
He congratulated U.S. President Donald Trump's government efficiency adviser, Elon Musk, this month for aiming to dismantle the main U.S. aid agency, saying its funds were used to "deform the political system" in Slovakia.
Fico, in the United States to speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference, met Musk and said on Friday he was assured that what he called the era of funding for "anti-government" media and NGOs was ending.
The four-time prime minister has vowed not to bow to protester demands that he should resign.
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