The protest united the opposition, including the liberal Progressive Slovakia, pro-business Freedom and Solidarity and the conservative Christian Democrats who all say Fico is a threat to democracy.
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00:00Thousands of protesters have gathered in Bratislava to oppose the policies of populist Prime Minister
00:07Robert Fico.
00:09The rally coincided with the 35th anniversary of the start of the Velvet Revolution that
00:14brought an end to communist rule in the former Czechoslovakia.
00:18The protest united opposition parties who all say Fico is a threat to democracy.
00:24We have to remind ourselves to protect freedom and democracy.
00:28That's why I'm very happy that people came here today to remember these values with us.
00:34Because it's not about freedom, democracy, but it's also about freedom of the media and
00:39independent journalism.
00:40It's not a matter of course, it's something that needs to be strengthened again and again.
00:45Fico came to power last year and his government has pushed through a plan to overhaul public
00:50broadcasting.
00:51Proof critics say would give the government full control of public television and radio.
00:56Moves to amend a penal code and eliminate a special anti-graft prosecutor has led opponents
01:01to worry that he's leading Slovakia down a more autocratic path.
01:05Fico ended his country's military aid for Ukraine, opposes EU sanctions on Russia and
01:11says he'll block Ukraine's bid to join NATO.
01:14The Velvet Revolution took place from the 17th to the 28th of November 1989, one of
01:20several anti-communism movements in Eastern Europe at the end of the 80s.
01:24Demonstrations and strikes against the one-party government of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
01:29included people from across the civilian spectrum.
01:33The result was the end of 41 years of one-party rule in the country, the dismantling of the
01:38centrally planned economy and the transition to a parliamentary democracy.