In the depths of winter, criticism is already raining down on the new government of Slovakia

Protests against Prime Minister Robert Fico and particularly his plan to dismantle the Special Prosecutor’s Office have recently gained momentum in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, and other Slovak cities.

This institution deals with high-level corruption and organized crime and is currently investigating several cases involving Robert Fico’s own party. Even the European Commission has expressed concern.

“A country contaminated by crime and oligarchs”

A man attending the rally in Bratislava tells us “want to show (one’s) support and attachment to democracy and the rule of law because, in reality, (the Prime Minister) corrupts the justice system.”

Another younger protester shared his anger with us: “From the outside it looks like a beautiful democratic country in Eastern Europe. But when you look inside it is contaminated by crime and oligarchs, that’s why that I see it as the shame of Europe,” he denounces.

A pro-Russian and anti-immigration speech

Robert Fico became prime minister for the fourth time in the fall, leading a coalition bringing together left-wing populists and ultranationalists. His critics say his campaign was marked by pro-Russian, anti-Ukrainian, anti-American and anti-immigration rhetoric.

Does his return to power really threaten democracy in the country? Slovakia is currently ranked 50th out of 180 countries in the Global Corruption Index, its highest rank in ten years, according to experts from Zastavme Korupciu, an NGO committed to the fight against corruption.

But Xénia Makarová, analyst and spokesperson, adds that there is nothing to be proud of. “Public corruption in Slovakia occurs precisely in the areas that our foundation focuses on: namely public procurement, conflicts of interest when politicians put their interests ahead of the general interestand corruption,” she describes.

Verbal attacks against NGOs and journalists

The Prime Minister described NGOs as“foreign agents”of “thieves” and of “liars”. The government has proposed redirecting the public funds they receive towards retirees. Some of them do not know if they will be able to continue their activities and for how long.

Slovak journalists also accuse the Prime Minister of treating them like “prostitutes”of “snakes” and of “crazy”. We attempted to contact the executive, but he repeatedly rejected all of our interview requests.

The concern of Ukrainian refugees in the country

Robert Fico also gave an ambivalent speech on the war in Ukraine. The Prime Minister first declared that there would be no more shipments of weapons. He has since tempered this approach, but the approximately 150,000 Ukrainians who live there are worried. We met some of them at the NGO Mareena, where they are learning Slovak to better integrate. “I am a little worried to see to what extent we have relegated to the bottom of the list of priorities the question of Ukrainians, their inclusion and their integration and I fear that we will do so again in the years to come,” underlines the director and co-founder of the NGO, Michaela Pobudová.

In this context, the Slovaks will very soon have the opportunity to express themselves at the ballot box, by reinforcing or sanctioning Robert Fico’s policies, the presidential elections being scheduled for March 23.

Watch our full report in the video player above.

Journalist • Julian GOMEZ