Slovak Opposition Plans a ‘Color Revolution’, PM Fico Warns
PM Robert Fico. X/ @max1ci6
January 23, 2025 Hour: 8:27 am
On Friday, protesters could occupy government buildings, call for a national strike, or confront security forces.
On Thursday, Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico accused the opposition of planning subversive acts, ahead of protests scheduled for this Friday in more than 20 cities against his pro-Russian policies.
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“Someone is openly saying that they are sending people across Slovakia who are connected to opposition parties, NGOs, and the media, and that it is necessary to use public disobedience, start occupying government buildings, and obstruct the work of the government,” he said, warning that protesters could occupy government buildings, call for a national strike, or confront security forces in a form of ‘Color Revolution’ to overthrow him.
The Western-backed opposition ridiculed the accusations and criticized the prime minister for attempting to criminalize peaceful protests and thus discourage citizen participation by creating a climate of fear.
Fico’s accusations are based on a report from the Slovak Intelligence Services (SIS), which was presented behind closed doors in Parliament on Tuesday. The SIS uncovered an operation to destabilize Slovakia, according to a report based on messages generated by ChatGPT for the NGO “Not In Our Town.”
Founded in 2013, this non-governmental organization called for ideas to mobilize non-violently against the government, and ChatGPT suggested protests and blockades of public buildings to demand respect for the law, reject ties with Russia, and maintain the country’s pro-European orientation.
However, the NGO denied any conspiracy or illegal acts, clarifying that the plans were drafted using ‘ChatGPT’ and publicly sent to about a hundred organizations participating in the protests.
Following the SIS report, President Peter Pellegrini convened a State Security Council meeting for today, which decided not to take preventive measures, such as increasing surveillance of official premises. “We call on citizens not to be manipulated into breaking the constitutional order,” Fico urged.
The leader of the opposition party ‘Progressive Slovakia,’ Michal Šimečka, criticized Fico’s comments about alleged subversive activities and labeled the SIS report a “dangerous parody.” As a result of the SIS report, however, the political opposition chose to withdraw the motion of no confidence against the Fico administration that was to be processed on Tuesday. This legislative action will be resumed in the future.
The pro-European opposition has called for protests against the government on Friday in the capital Bratislava and more than twenty cities in the EU and NATO member country since 2004.
teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE