Protests against Consolidation Held in Several Cities and Towns across Slovakia

Bratislava, 16 September (TASR) - Gatherings organised by the opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party against consolidation are taking place in Bratislava, Kosice, Banska Bystrica, Zilina and 12 other cities and towns in Slovakia on Tuesday evening. The protest is also being attended by opposition chairs of Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), Christian Democrats (KDH) and the extra-parliamentary Democrats. According to PS, the consolidation will affect working people. "There is strength in unity. We have to work together like this, mobilise people and show [Premier Robert] Fico's [Smer-SD] government that it can't do everything. It can't impoverish people with impunity, sell them to the mafia or drag them off somewhere to Russia," said PS leader Michal Simecka, adding that he considers the consolidation to be an attack on employees, sole traders and entrepreneurs. The protests are also being held in Trnava, Nitra, Trencin, Presov, Bardejov, Kezmarok (both Presov region), Liptovsky Mikulas, Ruzomberok (Zilina region), Lucenec (Banska Bystrica region), Povazska Bystrica (Trencin region), Senica (Trnava region) and Spisska Nova Ves (Kosice region). am