Thousands Protest Government ‘Media Crackdown’ In Slovakia

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

BRATISLAVA/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Thousands of people rallied over the weekend in Slovakia against media plans by the new government of Prime Minister Robert Fico following similar demonstrations in neighboring Hungary.

Fico, who maintains close ties with Hungary’s perceived authoritarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, plans to overhaul Slovakia’s public broadcasting system despite ongoing protests.

The latest rally, which began late Friday at Freedom Square in the Slovak capital Bratislava, joined President Zuzana Caputova, local journalists, the opposition, international media organizations, the European Union’s executive European Commission, and others.

All warned that the proposed changes would result in the government’s complete control of the Slovak public television and radio.

Fico appears to copy the media policies of his close ally Orbán, whose takeover or closing of independent media was condemned by the European Union, the United States, and others.

Under Fico’s plans drafted by Culture Minister Martina Simkovicova, the current public radio and television known as RTVS would be replaced by a new organization.

A new seven-member council with members nominated by the government and parliament would select its director as part of plans comparable to Hungary’s media policies.

DISMISSING DIRECTOR

The current media authority has a parliamentary mandate until 2027. Still, the new council, due to be filled with Fico allies, would have a right to dismiss the director without giving any reason.

Zora Jaurova, a lawmaker for the significant opposition Progressive Slovakia party that co-organized the protest, said the changes would turn the broadcaster into “a trumpet for government propaganda.”

“We must not allow that to happen,” she told the crowd. Yet doubts remained about whether the government changed its ways despite the protests.

“This appears to be a thinly veiled attempt to turn the Slovak public service broadcaster into state-controlled media,” said Noel Curran, the director-general of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which includes Slovakia’s public network. “That would be a dangerous step backward for democracy and freedom of expression,” Curran warned.

The populist Fico, who ended the Eastern European country’s military aid for Ukraine, won a mandatory confidence vote in Parliament in November after his three-party coalition government was sworn in on Oct 25.

Fico returned to power and took over as prime minister for the fourth time after his scandal-tainted leftist Smer, or Direction, party won Slovakia’s September 30 parliamentary vote on a pro-Russian and anti-American platform. His victory marked a dramatic turnaround in the country’s foreign policy and further straining a fragile unity in the European Union and the NATO military alliance.

Orbán, who had become increasingly isolated in the EU over his perceived authoritarian policies, was among the first leaders to congratulate Fico on the election outcome. “Always good to work together with a patriot. Looking forward to it! Fico wrote on social media platform X, previously known as Twitter.

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