On Tuesday, September 16, 2025, the streets of Slovakia pulsed with energy and frustration as thousands of citizens rallied in 16 major cities and towns, including the capital Bratislava. Their message was loud and clear: they are fed up with the economic austerity measures and pro-Russian policies of Prime Minister Robert Fico’s government. The nationwide protest, one of the largest in recent years, marked a boiling point after months of mounting discontent.
According to the Associated Press, the demonstrations were not isolated to the capital. From Košice in the east to Žilina in the north, Slovaks gathered in city squares, waving banners and chanting slogans. The mood was tense but determined, as a broad coalition of political parties and civil groups joined forces to voice their opposition to the government’s latest actions.
What set this wave of protests apart was its dual focus. First, there was outrage over a new package of austerity measures approved by Fico’s cabinet. These measures, the government argued, are necessary to address a ballooning budget deficit—5.3% of GDP last year, the second highest among eurozone countries. The deficit is expected to surpass 5% again this year, far above the 3% limit required by the European Union. To close the gap, the government has increased health and social insurance contributions, raised income taxes on higher earners, hiked the value added tax on certain food products, and even floated the idea of reducing the number of national holidays.
But for many Slovaks, these policies feel like salt in a wound. Labor unions and critics say ordinary people will bear the brunt of the cuts, while businesses complain that the measures do nothing to stimulate the economy. "The Slovaks are fed up with that," declared Michal Šimečka, head of the Progressive Slovakia party, as he addressed the crowd gathered at Bratislava’s Freedom Square. According to AP reporting, Šimečka’s party spearheaded the protests in collaboration with Freedom and Solidarity, the Christian Democrats, and the Democrats. “We differ from each other but I can guarantee that we will work together,” he told the assembled crowd, drawing cheers and applause.
Some protest leaders went further, suggesting the time had come to organize a general strike against the government. The crowd responded with a chant that echoed through the square: “We’ve had enough of Fico.” The sentiment was unmistakable—anger at the government’s economic policies had merged with a deeper anxiety about Slovakia’s political direction.
That brings us to the second source of unrest: Prime Minister Fico’s foreign policy, particularly his overtures to Russia and China. The latest protests were fueled by Fico’s recent trip to Beijing, where he met Russian President Vladimir Putin for the third time since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Fico was also the only head of a European Union country to attend a military parade hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. According to AP, this move was widely condemned by opposition parties and many ordinary citizens, who saw it as a clear signal that Slovakia was drifting away from its Western allies.
Fico’s attendance at the Beijing parade was not an isolated gesture. Since returning to power for the fourth time after his Smer (Direction) party won the 2023 parliamentary election, Fico has openly challenged the European Union’s policies on Ukraine. His campaign was marked by a pro-Russia and anti-American message, and his critics argue that Slovakia under his leadership is beginning to follow the path of Hungary under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who is often described as an autocrat by his opponents.
The comparison to Hungary is not lost on many Slovaks. Fico’s opponents warn that his government’s actions threaten to erode democratic norms and undermine Slovakia’s position within the European Union. “We’ve had enough of Fico,” protesters chanted—a simple phrase that captured both economic frustration and political alarm. For some, the fear is that Slovakia could become increasingly isolated from the rest of Europe, just as Hungary has under Orbán’s rule.
The government, for its part, insists that the austerity measures are unavoidable. With the budget deficit running at more than 5% of GDP, ministers say tough choices must be made. The increases in health and social insurance, higher taxes for the wealthy, and VAT hikes on some food products are all designed to bring Slovakia back in line with EU fiscal rules. Yet, as business leaders point out, there is little in the package that would help boost growth or create jobs. Critics argue that the government is asking ordinary people to make sacrifices while offering them little hope for a better future.
Labor unions have been particularly vocal, warning that the cuts will hit working families hardest. The specter of a general strike now hangs over the country, with some protest leaders openly discussing the possibility. "We differ from each other but I can guarantee that we will work together," Šimečka said, highlighting the rare unity among opposition parties in the face of the government’s policies.
As the protests renewed last week—sparked by Fico’s meeting with Putin and other authoritarian leaders in Beijing—the sense of urgency grew. Many Slovaks see the prime minister’s foreign policy as a dangerous gamble that could leave the country isolated and vulnerable. The fact that Fico was the only EU leader to attend the military parade in China did not go unnoticed, and for many, it was the last straw.
Fico himself remains a deeply divisive figure in Slovak politics. Having served as prime minister four times, he is both a seasoned political survivor and a lightning rod for controversy. His supporters argue that he is standing up for Slovakia’s interests and challenging what they see as an overbearing European Union. His critics, however, see a leader who is taking the country down a dangerous path, both economically and politically.
As the dust settles from Tuesday’s mass protests, the big question is what comes next. Will the opposition parties succeed in organizing a general strike? Will the government back down or double down on its policies? And perhaps most importantly, will Slovakia chart its own course, or continue to follow the lead of its more authoritarian neighbors?
For now, one thing is clear: the people of Slovakia have found their voice, and they are determined to make it heard—even if it means standing out in the streets, rain or shine, until something changes.
