Thousands protest Slovak leader Fico over whistleblower office closure and penal code changes

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — Thousands rallied across Slovakia on Tuesday to protest the latest moves by the government of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico to dismantle an independent office that protects those who report corruption and other criminal activities and amend the penal code.

Rallies took place in 10 communities, including the capital, Bratislava, where the protesters at Freedom Square had a massage for Fico: ''Resign, resign.''

Fico has long been a divisive figure in Slovakia and people rally often to protest his pro-Russian and other policies.

This time, people were angered after lawmakers in Parliament loyal to Fico's coalition government approved a plan to cancel the Whistleblower Protection Office last week despite critical responses to such a move at home and abroad.

In another controversial step, they voted to ban the use of evidence gathered from the suspects who cooperated with law enforcement authorities in exchange for a lower sentence. Such evidence cannot also be used if they lied in any other case.

A banner in the crowd read: ''Fico's government helps mafia.''

Michal Šimečka, the head of the Progressive Slovakia opposition party that organized the rally told the crowd: ''Slovakia is the only country where the government approves laws to make life easier for criminals and mafia.''

The opposition charged that the changes were designed to help a prominent ally of Fico, deputy speaker of Parliament Tibor Gašpar, who should face trial on charges of establishing a criminal group.

Protesters called on President Peter Pellegrini, usually an ally of Fico, to veto the changes. Pellegrini has to sign the legislation to become law, but the government has a majority to override it.

Fico's critics claim that under his government, Slovakia is following the direction of Hungary under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.