Official: Slovakia stable after threats of destabilisation

Slovakia is currently stable and has successfully dealt with threats of destabilisation, Slovakian Deputy Parliament Speaker Tibor Gašpar told TASS in an interview.

The politician was asked about the state of security in the country following last year's protests.

"Currently, the situation in Slovakia is stable," he said. "Law enforcement and intelligence structures have not recorded systematic and proven attempts at orchestrated destabilisation of the state from abroad, although Slovakia, like other countries, faces disinformation and hybrid threats."

Gašpar noted that "the protests that took place last year were an expression of citizens’ democratic right to voice their opinions."

"The government emphasises the need for public dialogue and respect for democratic institutions," he explained.

The protests were called by the biggest opposition party, Progressive Slovakia, after Prime Minister Robert Fico‘s leftist-nationalist government pushed legislative changes through parliament that dismantle the whistleblower protection agency and alter the handling of crown witnesses.

Demonstrators carried Slovak and European Union flags and held placards with slogans such as “Fico’s government is helping Mafia,” while chanting “Enough of Fico” and “Shame!”

By Sabina Mammadli