Pensioners’ rally morphs into anti-government protest

The third rally by pensioners organised by a civil society group spearheaded by former Democrats MP Pavel Rupar turned into a fully-fledged anti-government protest on 31 March as pensioners demanded that the government resign and a snap election be held.

Organised by the civil initiative Voice of Pensioners and its offshoot 1 October Institute, whose head is Rupar, the rally took to the streets of the capital and culminated in Republic Square, in front of Parliament House. Several thousand people attended.

First held on 1 February, the day after pensions rose significantly,...