Fico, long a dominant force in Slovak politics, has often waged a war of words against the pro-Western liberal opposition, non-governmental organisations and media, accusing them of conspiring against Slovakia.

Thousands have rallied all across Slovakia to mark the seventh anniversary of the slayings of an investigative journalist and his fiancee.

Thousands rallied across Slovakia on Friday to mark the seventh anniversary of the killing of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová, who were shot dead at their home town of Velka Maca,