FRENCH kissin’ doesn’t only happen in the USA. As Prime Minister Robert Fico and his secretary proved, a BMW parked in front of a Bratislava apartment building is also a good place for a nice French kiss (francuzák).
However, there is one difference. While in America the incident would jeopardise the political future of the kisser, in Slovakia the reaction is lukewarm. Fico is a likely contender in next year’s presidential elections. Yet all other confirmed candidates have said they are not particularly concerned with his private life and will not use it in the campaign.
Although TV Markíza and TV JOJ regularly open their main news programmes with car accidents and finish with reports from local zoos, the former has called this story too “tabloid” and the latter says they “can’t imagine how to shoot a minute and a half about this”.
Gay pride parades and efforts to legalise homosexual partnerships always face harsh opposition from religious groups, with the Christian Democrats demanding that the family be protected by the constitution. But now, when the head of the government and the most powerful man in the country seems to have been caught cheating, the Catholic church declines to comment, and the KDH is also silent.
The PM’s office is not saying much either, refusing to disclose even such basic information as Jana Halászová’s precise position and responsibilities, as well as her salary and bonuses.
For now it seems that despite being photographed in a sensitive situation with a subordinate 21 years his junior, Fico will get off the hook without much harm. He must be thrilled he wasn’t born in the USA.
