PM Robert Fico in parliament on November 14, 2023. (source: TASR - Jaroslav Novák)
The media are part of the blood circulation of democracy and their limitation would result in her dying, said President Zuzana Čaputová in response to Prime Minister Robert Fico's intention of checking the credentials of the so-called "hostile media" upon entering the Government Office.
According to Fico, TV Markíza, the dailies Denník N and Sme, as well as the news website Aktuality are "hostile media".
Fico attacked media before election
Fico added that the media will be seen as unwanted guests at the Office until the decision is made. At the beginning of October, he talked about his wish of conducting friendly relations with the media.
“I am in favour of normal, working and pleasant relations [with the media] in the future," Fico told journalists at the first press conference after the parliamentary election.
Before the election, Smer, as well as several other political parties, regularly attacked the media and journalists. However, the biggest disseminators of attacks on journalists and the media were Fico and other members of the now ruling Smer party, an analysis by the Ján Kuciak Investigative Journalism Centre showed in October.
The president reminded Fico that criticism of politicians is also part of the media's work.
"For us, the politicians, this can be naturally uncomfortable. But the importance of the media goes beyond our discomfort and is irreplaceable for democracy," emphasised the head of state.
Reporters Without Borders will watch government
The Reporters Without Borders organisation intends to ensure that Slovakia complies with its international obligations in press freedom and the rule of law after the new government taking office, the TASR news agency wrote.
In its government programme, which the parliament began to discuss on Tuesday afternoon, the government committed itself to creating conditions for the equal functioning of all media as well as prevent unauthorised interference with the freedom of the press and the right to disseminate information. The government claims that it wants to protect freedom of speech, including on social networks. It expects the public media to provide independent and objective journalism.
RTVS, the Slovak public broadcaster, will be divided again into Slovak Television and Slovak Radio, but the government programme also allows for another solution that would "strengthen RTVS' public status".
Slovakia is currently in 17th place among 180 countries in the RSF World Press Freedom Index.
