The caption reads: Slovakia does not belong to the government, but its citizens. (source: TASR)
It started with more than a hundred psychiatrists and psychologists who signed an open letter to Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer) more than a week ago. They expressed grave concerns over the country's political direction under his leadership and warn of a deteriorating political culture, polarisation, and democratic backsliding.
PM Fico dismissed the letter, accusing its authors of politicising their professions. "You have long been public opponents of this government," he wrote in response, calling the appeal "a disgraceful abuse of your titles for political purposes."
More and more expressing concerns
Since then, several hundred psychiatrists and psychologists have joined in and signed it. The Slovak Chamber of Psychologists also issued their own letter, as did the Slovak Psychiatry Association.
Soon after that, more than 1,500 members of academia also expressed their outrage at the state of public affairs and the overall direction of Slovakia under the leadership of the prime minister.
"We cannot stand by and watch as facts acquired, thanks to the efforts of generations of scientists from many scientific fields, from medicine to history, are purposefully questioned, ridiculed, and even denied under your patronage," they write.
The letter also condemned verbal attacks from several ruling politicians after a student refused to shake hands with President Peter Pellegrini due to his 'personal and political issues with the president'.
PM Fico criticised Pellegrini for what he described as a misstep in supporting a student’s decision and explained that he would have handled the situation differently. "First, I'd ask [the student] if he ever had a proper bedroom. Second, what his parents taught him. And third, I'd take his award away and send him where he belongs in front of all the media," Fico said, accusing "anti-Slovak" outlets of applauding the student. Fico suggested that the student would have deserved a few slaps.
Seven student and youth initiatives have united under a joint statement warning against Slovakia's drifting away from democratic values and rapprochement with authoritarian regimes.
Hauliers in dismay
Last Friday saw teachers and education experts signing their own open letter, with several hundred in just a few minutes upon publication. They critise the questioning of experts, the spread of hatred and the normalisation of inappropriate behaviour by politicians. They also point out that education is not a priority for the government.
Even truck drivers issued public statements reproaching the government in one way or another, reacting with derision to PM Fico's claims that a mysterious group allegedly behind the protests was also planning to block roads. According to them, all the big truck companies have left Slovakia and registered their companies abroad due to the decisions of, and laws passed by, this government.
All eight chairs of Slovakia's self-governing regions, including the Nitra Region chaired by Branislav Becík from Hlas, and the Trenčín Region chaired by Jaroslav Baška from Smer, have written a joint statement, calling on politicians to not question Slovakia's membership in NATO and the EU. This was a response to Deputy Speaker of Parliament Tibor Gašpar (Smer) who said that the withdrawal of Slovakia from the EU and NATO should be an option.
The Federation of Employers' Associations of Slovakia, an entity that cannot be omitted from comment procedures when it comes to submitting draft laws, also reacted to Gašpar's statement, saying that it has raised concerns in business circles.
Diplomats, culture representatives, and the Catholic Church as well have issued their statements.
