As many as 2,000 people in the centre of Bratislava were demanding a stop to corruption and stealing of public money on December 10, holding protest signs reading “We are not sheep” and “Fico step down”.
The event was the lates in a series of protests organised by independent MP Alojz Hlina, along with opposition colleagues Daniel Lipsic (independent, member of NOVA party), Richard Sulík (Freedom and Solidarity-SaS) and Igor Matovič (Ordinary People and Independent Personalities-OĽaNO). The lawmakers repeatedly called for their six demands to be met: immediate dismissal of Health Ministry office head Martin Senčák and A. Winter Hospital director Mária Domčeková over the recent CT scan scandal at Piešťany’s hospital, the passing of new legislation to prevent the participation of garage firms in public tenders and introduction of material responsibility for public officials, among others.
One of the demands has already been partially accommodated, as Health Minister Viliam Čislák declared earlier in the day that he would removed Senčák. According to the opposition lawmakers, this means that “things have begun to move forward”.
The head of the nurse and midwives labour union Monika Kavecká made a speech during the demonstration. Peter Pčolinský, who received public recognition by co-organising the so-called Gorilla protests pertaining to a secret service file allegedly transcribing secret talks between politicians and business tycoons, also made an appearance.
The opposition announced that protests will continue also after Christmas holidays.
(Source: TASR, Sme)
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
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