BRATISLAVA, January 12. /TASS/. Citizens of Slovakia took to the streets on Thursday to demand the resignation of the incumbent government led by Social Democrat Robert Fico, the Markiza television channel reported.

According to the report, "many thousands of citizens" took part in rallies, organized by a coalition of liberal parties who lost the latest parliamentary elections in September 2023.

The largest protest took place in the capital Bratislava, bringing together some 20,000 activists, according to organizers. Protests were reported in the eastern Slovakian cities of Presov and Kosice, and in the nearby town of Spisska Nova Ves. Besides, rallies were also held in the western cities of Nitra, Piestany, Trencin, Levice and Trnava, as well as in Banska Bystrica and Prievidza in central Slovakia. Residents of the northwestern cities of Povazska Bystrica and Zlina, as well as of Liptovsky Mikulas in the country’s north, took to the streets as well.

The protests, which began in late 2023, were sparked by the government’s December 6 decision to abolish the special prosecutors’ office - the authority that handles serious and high-profile cases, including those related to the country’s political life and involving major political figures.

Fico and members of his cabinet accused this institution of violating the rights of citizens during its investigations and of abusing its broad powers. In response, the opposition accused Fico of attempts to infringe on the rule of law in the country.

Fico’s decision drew criticism from Slovak President Zuzana Caputova, the US Embassy in Slovakia and the European Commission.

The news has been edited (12.01 at 00:09) - corrects the premier's name in paras 5, 6.