Culture Minister Marek Maďarič recently took the floor of parliament to berate publishers for opposing the governing coalition’s draft Press Code.
Maďarič accused publishers of lying about the bill and pretending to be concerned about freedom of the press while actually being interested in protecting their interests.
He also scolded those Slovak dailies that published blank cover pages on March 27th bearing the words "Seven sins of the Press Code”.
Maďarič continued that newspapers fear the Press Code because it would prevent them from publishing inaccuracies, lies and half-truths.
He went on to say that publishers mislead the public when they claim that the code would take away the principles of truth as a defence or that it allows his ministry to fine publishers that turn down a correction or reply.
Finally, Maďarič contended that giving state institutions the right to reply is standard practice in Ukraine, Germany and Portugal, where it has prevented lawsuits. SITA
