Thousands protest in Slovakia against Fico government's judicial reforms

"Protesters called on President Pellegrini, usually an ally of Prime Minister Fico, to veto the changes. Thousands of people have rallied across Slovakia to protest against changes to the judicial system that opposition politicians and critics say are destroying the rule of law, Slovak media reported. Protesters filled much of a central square in the capital of Bratislava, and there were protests in eight other cities on Tuesday."

"The biggest opposition party, Progressive Slovakia, called the protest after Prime Minister Robert Ficos leftist-nationalist government pushed legislative changes through parliament last week that dismantle the whistleblower protection agency and change the way the state deals with crown witnesses. They took a chainsaw to the rule of law, Michal Simecka, the leader of Progressive Slovakia, told the crowd in Bratislava, according to a live video that streamed online."

"Slovakia is the only country where the government approves laws to make life easier for criminals and mafia, he also said. People carried Slovak and European Union flags as well as placards with slogans, such as Fico's government is helping Mafia, and chanted Enough of Fico and Shame! A protester holds a banner reading, For Christmas I wish to get a reason to be proud that I live here, at a demonstration against the abolition of the whistleblower protection office and penal code changes [AFP]"

Thousands of Slovaks rallied in Bratislava and eight other cities to oppose judicial-system changes that critics say undermine the rule of law. Protesters urged President Pellegrini, an ally of Prime Minister Fico, to veto laws that dismantle the whistleblower protection agency and alter how the state handles crown witnesses. Opposition leaders accused the government of making life easier for criminals and the mafia and compared its actions to Hungary under Viktor Orban. Demonstrators carried Slovak and EU flags, chanted against Fico and displayed banners. The government defends reforms as correcting political abuse and has also revised criminal codes, public broadcasting and constitutional relations with EU law.

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