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Slovak psychiatrists have raised serious concerns about the state of democracy in the country in an open letter, accusing Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD/NI) of aggressive, polarising rhetoric and a foreign policy that threatens Slovakia's standing in the EU and NATO.

According to the signatories of the letter, Fico’s aggressiveness and emotional explosiveness in his public speeches became more pronounced after the assassination attempt in May 2024.

Addressing Fico directly, the psychiatrists stressed that his current political behaviour is causing frustration and dissatisfaction among a significant part of the Slovak population, leading an increasing number of people to consider leaving the country.

They accused him of being authoritarian, manipulating facts, lying and attacking journalists, members of the public and political opponents.

By Sunday evening, 155 psychiatrists had signed the letter, and the number continues to grow.

In the letter, they say that Fico’s domestic policy is primarily focused on consolidating power for himself, his party, and his coalition partners while neglecting critical issues of the state, such as lagging infrastructure development, the struggling education system and health care.

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Fico's stance on Russia has become increasingly problematic, especially after he visited Russian President Vladimir Putin and threatened Ukraine for halting gas transits.

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“We hope in your capacity for self-reflection and the possibility of correcting your political behaviour, including the consideration of leaving high-level politics,” the letter concluded.

Fico speaks of Maidan

In his response to the letter, Fico threatened the initiators of the letter - psychiatrists Professors Jozef Hašto and Anton Heretik.

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“I do not doubt for a second that you will support the opposition's attempt at a Slovak Maidan, which the Slovak opposition, with the full support of foreign-funded NGOs and the anti-Slovak media, is working hard on,“ Fico said in a Facebook post.