Thousands of Slovaks flooded the central SNP square in Bratislava on Thursday, September 11, 2025, voicing outrage over Prime Minister Robert Fico’s increasingly pro-Russian policies and a slate of government austerity measures set to be debated in parliament. The demonstration marked a dramatic escalation in public dissent, fueled by Fico’s recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing—a move that has left many Slovaks feeling their country’s foreign policy is drifting further from the European mainstream.
According to the Associated Press, the spark for the latest round of protests was Fico’s high-profile trip to China on September 3. There, he attended a military parade hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Notably, Fico was the only head of a European Union member state present at the event. During his visit, he met with Putin for the third time since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The previous two meetings had taken place in Moscow—a fact that has not gone unnoticed among Slovaks concerned about their country’s geopolitical direction.
Fico’s repeated meetings with Putin have become a lightning rod for criticism, especially given that he has yet to visit Kyiv or any Ukrainian region affected by the war. Instead, the prime minister has consistently called for “normalizing” relations with Russia, a stance that runs counter to the European Union’s position on the conflict. Many view his actions as a deliberate snub of Ukraine’s plight and an endorsement of Moscow’s narrative.
“Shame, shame,” echoed across the square as protesters vented their frustration, chanting “We had enough of Fico.” The mood was tense but determined, with banners decrying both foreign and domestic policies. The government’s proposed austerity measures—set for parliamentary debate on Friday, September 12—were a major point of contention. Many fear these measures will squeeze public services and hit ordinary Slovaks hardest, all while scandals swirl around alleged misuse of European Union funds by Fico’s administration.
Alojz Hlina, an organizer from the opposition Freedom and Solidarity party, addressed the crowd with a sense of urgency. “This is just a beginning. We have to stop them,” he declared, according to Reuters. His words seemed to capture the prevailing sentiment: the protest was not a one-off event but the opening salvo in a broader campaign of resistance. Another major rally, organized by the liberal Progressive Slovakia party, is already on the calendar for Tuesday, September 16.
Fico’s return to power in 2023 was itself a watershed moment in Slovak politics. His leftist Smer (Direction) party clinched victory in the parliamentary election after running on a platform that was both pro-Russian and staunchly anti-American. As reported by BBC, this messaging resonated with a segment of the electorate disillusioned with the West and skeptical of the EU’s approach to the Ukraine conflict. But for many others, it signaled a dangerous turn away from the values and alliances Slovakia had embraced since joining the EU and NATO.
Critics have not minced words in comparing Fico’s Slovakia to Viktor Orbán’s Hungary. Like Orbán, Fico has openly challenged EU policies, particularly regarding Ukraine, and has been accused of steering his country down an increasingly autocratic path. The New York Times notes that both leaders have cultivated images as strongmen willing to defy Brussels, often invoking national sovereignty and traditional values to justify their stances. For many Slovaks, this parallel is deeply troubling; Orbán’s Hungary has faced repeated censure from the EU over rule-of-law issues and democratic backsliding.
The anger in Bratislava is not just about geopolitics, though. The government’s austerity package—details of which are set to be thrashed out in parliament—has stoked fears about cuts to social programs, education, and healthcare. Protesters see these measures as yet another example of ordinary citizens being asked to bear the brunt of elite mismanagement and corruption. Allegations of EU funds being siphoned off for political purposes have only deepened the sense of betrayal.
“We have to stop them,” repeated Hlina, underscoring the sense of collective resolve. The opposition’s strategy appears to be one of sustained mobilization, with rallies planned to keep the pressure on Fico’s government. The liberal Progressive Slovakia party, which has positioned itself as a vocal critic of the prime minister’s foreign and domestic agenda, is expected to draw significant crowds at its upcoming demonstration.
Fico’s supporters, for their part, argue that his approach is pragmatic. They contend that maintaining dialogue with Russia is in Slovakia’s national interest, especially given the country’s historical and economic ties to its eastern neighbor. Some also see the government’s austerity measures as necessary to address fiscal imbalances and ensure long-term stability. These arguments, however, have done little to quell the growing sense of unease among the broader public.
The scale and intensity of Thursday’s protest suggest that opposition to Fico’s policies is not confined to political elites or urban activists. Many participants described a sense of déjà vu, recalling previous waves of protest against corruption and democratic erosion during Fico’s earlier terms in office. The current unrest, however, feels different to some. With the war in Ukraine grinding on and the EU facing its own internal challenges, Slovakia’s political trajectory has become a bellwether for the broader contest between liberal democracy and authoritarianism in Central Europe.
As parliament prepares to debate the austerity package, all eyes will be on Bratislava. Will Fico’s government press ahead with its plans, or will the mounting pressure force a rethink? For now, the only certainty is that the protests are unlikely to fade quietly into the background. With another rally looming and opposition parties vowing to keep up the fight, Slovakia finds itself at a crossroads—torn between competing visions of its future and the enduring question of where its true allegiances lie.
The coming days promise to be decisive, not just for Fico and his government but for the very soul of Slovak democracy.