Slovaks Rally Against PM Fico's Plan to Abolish Mail Voting from Abroad
Thousands of protesters gathered in Bratislava and other Slovak cities, as well as in Brussels and Prague, to oppose Prime Minister Robert Fico’s controversial proposal to eliminate mail voting for Slovaks living abroad. The demonstration, organized by opposition parties including Progressive Slovakia, Freedom and Solidarity, and others, coincided with celebrations of Hungary’s recent election results that ousted Viktor Orbán. Opposition leader Michal Šimečka argued that the legislative change aims to suppress pro-Western voters, noting that Fico’s party received only 6.1% of overseas votes in 2023, while opposition groups secured over 80%. Fico defends the move as a necessary step to prevent electoral fraud, but critics view it as an autocratic tactic inspired by Orbán’s rule. Currently, nearly 59,000 expatriates voted by mail in the last election; under the new plan, they would be restricted to voting only at embassies. This rally marks the latest in a series of protests against Fico’s pro-Russian policies and governing style since his return to power in 2023, with the next national elections scheduled for 2027.
Wire timeline
Slovaks Rally Against PM Fico's Plan to Abolish Mail Voting from Abroad
Thousands of protesters gathered in Bratislava and other Slovak cities, as well as in Brussels and Prague, to oppose Prime Minister Robert Fico’s controversial proposal to eliminate mail voting for Slovaks living abroad. The demonstration, organized by opposition parties including Progressive Slovakia, Freedom and Solidarity, and others, coincided with celebrations of Hungary’s recent election results that ousted Viktor Orbán. Opposition leader Michal Šimečka argued that the legislative change aims to suppress pro-Western voters, noting that Fico’s party received only 6.1% of overseas votes in 2023, while opposition groups secured over 80%. Fico defends the move as a necessary step to prevent electoral fraud, but critics view it as an autocratic tactic inspired by Orbán’s rule. Currently, nearly 59,000 expatriates voted by mail in the last election; under the new plan, they would be restricted to voting only at embassies. This rally marks the latest in a series of protests against Fico’s pro-Russian policies and governing style since his return to power in 2023, with the next national elections scheduled for 2027.
AP News