Assembly Approves Stricter Public Order Rules After City Unrest

Late Tuesday evening a petrol‑filled bottle was thrown at the municipal building in Kosice, igniting a small fire and prompting a rapid police deployment. Demonstrators, many wearing masks, clashed with officers and a handful of storefronts suffered damage before the crowd dispersed. The incident sparked a city‑wide debate on the balance between civic expression and public safety.

The following day the Nord Europa Assembly convened an emergency session to consider an amendment to the Public Order Act. The proposal would grant regional police the authority to pre‑emptively disperse gatherings deemed a risk to life or property, and to impose stricter permit requirements for demonstrations exceeding 200 participants. The amendment passed 42‑38 after a heated debate, with the Nord‑Slovak Bloc voting against it.

Opposition members warned that the new powers could erode civil liberties and suppress legitimate dissent, especially in university towns where student protests are common. The Governor of Nord Europa, Eva Novák, affirmed that the legislation includes oversight mechanisms, but critics remain uneasy. Further details on the amendment’s implementation schedule and funding will be released by the Federal Interior Ministry later this week.