Prime Minister Robert Fico received a warning from the Party of European Socialists (PES) on September 5, telling him to stop attacking the media. The Hospodárske Noviny daily reported on September 6 that Fico’s European Soc-Dem colleagues warned him that if he did not lay off the media, his Smer party’s membership in the PES might not be renewed.
Hospodárske Noviny also reported that a recent evaluation of democracy around the world, carried out by the Economist Intelligence Unit, could also serve as a warning for Fico. The report ranked Slovakia in 41st place, lower even than countries such as Botswana. The Czech Republic ranked 18th.
Smer’s membership in PES was suspended last year due to Fico’s post-election decision to form a ruling coalition with the Nationalist Slovak National Party.
The head of European socialists in the European Parliament, Hannes
Swoboda, told Hospodárske Noviny that Smer’s relationship with the media is also an important criterion for the PES.
SITA
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
