Thousands Protest Outside Slovak Parliament Against Elimination of Postal Voting from Abroad

Approximately 2,000 people gathered outside Slovakia's National Council building on Tuesday evening to protest the government's plan to eliminate postal voting for citizens living abroad. The demonstration was organized by opposition parties Progressive Slovakia (PS), Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), and Democrats, taking place while coalition lawmakers were voting inside parliament. Protesters chanted "Enough of Fico!" loud enough for the ruling coalition members to hear during their session. The protest targeted a proposal by the current government, led by Prime Minister Robert Fico's Smer-SD party, to end the postal voting system that allows Slovak citizens residing overseas to participate in elections by mail. This system has been used by hundreds of thousands of Slovak expatriates to vote in parliamentary and presidential elections. The opposition parties emphasized the need for unity against what they see as an attempt to restrict voting rights. Postal voting from abroad has been a contentious political issue in Slovakia, with the ruling coalition arguing for stricter voting procedures while opposition parties and diaspora communities defend the system as essential for maintaining democratic participation of citizens living overseas.