Fico's views on Russia have largely differed from the European mainstream. He ended Slovakia's military aid for Ukraine, criticised European Union sanctions on Russia and vowed to block Ukraine from joining NATO.

"Smer has lost a lot of moderate support, so Fico is using extremist rhetoric and a pro-Russian stance to try to attract more radical voters, of which there are a fair number in Slovakia," Radoslav Stefancik, a political scientist at the University of Economics in Bratislava, told DW.

Robert Fico has said that Slovakia’s foreign policy orientation could involve leaving the European Union and Nato.

There will be more and more of us. Those who want to live in our little Slovakia, but in a civilized Europe,” said Eva Kulová, 84, who helped topple Communism.

BRATISLAVA - Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico rejected protesters' calls for his resignation on Jan 25 after tens of thousands demonstrated against his government's policy shift closer to Russia.

Tens of thousands of Slovaks protested against Prime Minister Robert Fico’s government in more than 40 cities Friday, seeking to defend the country’s pro-European alignment.

Tens of thousands of people have once again taken to the streets in numerous cities across Slovakia under the slogan "Slovakia is Europe!" They accuse left-nationalist Prime Minister Robert Fico of taking a pro-Russian stance and lacking solidarity with Ukraine.

Protests against Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico’s government have resumed on Friday, 7 February, in dozens of cities across Slovakia and abroad. Source: Slovak newspaper Aktuality, as reported by European Pravda Details: Demonstrations are taking place in more than 50 cities.