At a protest in the center of Bratislava, the opposition parties and movements KDH, SaS, PS and the extra-parliamentary party Democrats called for the end of the government of Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD). They want to defeat him in the next election. PS leader Michal Šimečka expressed his ambition to win them.
Tens of thousands of people took part in the event Nevezmu úm November, which was held on Náměstí slobody on the occasion of the 36th anniversary of the Gentle Revolution. The crowd chanted “Enough was Fica”, “We want change” or “We will not give Slovakia”.
According to Šimeček, people in November 1989 had courage and a desire for freedom. “These are exactly two values that the communists did not understand. Just as Robert Fico does not understand them today. That is why he will lose exactly as the communists lost.” stated. As the leader of the PS and also the leader of the opposition, he is ready to win the next parliamentary elections and defeat the government of Roberto Fico. At the same time, he declared on stage that one of the first things he would do after taking office would be to return November 17 as a day of rest.
According to the head of SaS, Branislav Gröhling, Slovakia has more goodness, strength and hope than anyone can imagine. He is convinced that the country needs a new gentle revolution, a revolution of decency, expertise and honest management. “Hope is not weakness. Hope is a decision not to give up. It is a decision to believe that tomorrow can be better than today.” Gröhling said from the stage.
KDH MP František Mikloško called it a shame that the government canceled November 17 as a day of rest. “Fico and his government coalition want to erase from our memory this modern story of ours that began on November 17,” stated Mikloško. He added that there were always people in Slovakia who moved the country forward to a better future.
The chairman of the extra-parliamentary party Democrats, Jaroslav Naď, said that the government coalition will not intimidate them. He thinks that the prime minister is destroying justice in Slovakia the way the communists did. “Today we see how the government office is a loud mouth of Russian propaganda from Moscow, just as it was under communism,” he noted.
After the political protest, a civil assembly organized by the civil association Mier Ukraine was held on Náměstí slobody. Several speakers criticized the current government. Former Prime Minister Iveta Radičová also spoke among them. “Politicians are not supposed to control us. Politicians are supposed to control the administration of public affairs and if they don’t know how to do it, let them go. Politicians are supposed to serve the weak, the vulnerable, protect all minorities and uphold justice. They are not supposed to support crooks.” she said.
Representatives of the Slovak Movement did not appear on the stage in Bratislava. They commemorate November 17 at gatherings in other cities in Slovakia.
