Democracy Digest: Slovak Protests and Other Preoccupations

Weekend protesters

Slovaks have a reputation for political apathy, mostly due to traditionally low voter turnout, but they have been anything but apathetic as they turned out in large numbers for a series of protests.

First, Slovak students filled Freedom Square in the capital, Bratislava, for last Friday's global climate strike, calling for environmental protection, climate justice and urgent action to stop global warming.

Like their counterparts in New York, Berlin or Sydney, children carried signs with slogans like "Climate change is worse than homework", "Don't cut the trees" and "Don't burn my future".

"The time for discussions and long talks about how and whether the problem should be solved is up. It's time to act," said organiser Emma Zajačková during the September 20 climate strike protest in Bratislava. https://t.co/lgpD7WU42T

— The Slovak Spectator (@slovakspectator) September 20, 2019

In the evening, Freedom Square filled with a new set of demonstrators for a rally organised by the For a Decent Slovakia, a self-styled people's movement. It was the latest in a series of mass protests that started in 2018 after the brutal murder of journalist Jan Kuciak.

After a summer break, For a Decent Slovakia is back on the streets in response to new information from the investigation into the murder, as well as leaked text messages from the phone of Marian Kocner (in Slovak), the man accused of ordering the slaying.

The local businessman known for alleged links with organised crime had apparently bragged to associates about his connections in government, law enforcement and the judiciary.

Demonstrators in Bratislava and about a dozen Slovak towns demanded the resignation of...