Czech Interior Minister Vít Rakušan’s participation in a Bratislava protest against the Slovak government on Tuesday (September 16) has sparked contrasting reactions in Slovakia, highlighting political tensions between the ruling government and opposition parties.
Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár (Smer-SD) condemned Rakušan’s actions, claiming that the Czech official interfered in Slovakia’s internal affairs and involved the country in the peak of the Czech election campaign for the Chamber of Deputies. “I reject interference in the domestic affairs of the Slovak Republic, which I consider to be the participation of the Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister of the Czech Republic, Vít Rakušan, in the anti-government opposition protest on September 16, 2025, in Bratislava. Such actions do not contribute to constructive Slovak-Czech dialogue; on the contrary, I see them as exploitation within the peak of the Czech pre-election campaign,” Blanár wrote on social media. He also instructed the Slovak ambassador in Prague to convey the government’s protest to the Czech authorities.
Blanár stressed that despite the claimed private nature of Rakušan’s visit, as Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister of the Czech Republic, his actions in another country fall under international law. “Although the Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister of the Czech Republic claims it was a private visit, his statements in interviews responding to his participation in the anti-government protest indicate political motivation,” he said.
On the other hand, Slovak opposition leader Michal Šimečka of Progressive Slovakia (PS) welcomed Rakušan’s visit and participation. “I am glad that he visited Slovakia again, to which he has a warm connection. I also appreciate that in his free time he came among the people in the square to feel the atmosphere and support their pro-European values. We will not let Fico spoil the good relations between our countries,” Šimečka said, also noting that he did not recall such strong reactions from Blanár when Czech politicians supported Slovak leaders directly during election campaigns.
During the protest, Rakušan posted a photo on social media platform X from Námestie Slobody, holding a banner with Czech and Slovak flags and the words “We are with you.” “In the Czech Republic, everyone warns of the ‘Slovak path.’ Today I came to support Slovaks on their path at Námestie Slobody at a demonstration for Slovakia’s pro-European direction,” he wrote. He also shared a video of the demonstration in which he spoke with participants and met Slovak opposition leaders, adding that there is hope for both Czechs and Slovaks.
Blanár countered that Rakušan’s statement about supporting Slovakia’s “pro-European direction” confirms the political motivation behind his visit and that Slovak opposition parties have long exploited this theme against the current government. He emphasized that while Slovak citizens have the right to peaceful protest, the government rejects the use of Slovak-Czech relations for political campaigning and reaffirmed Slovakia’s commitment to constructive cooperation with the Czech government that emerges after the elections.
Source: TASR
