The Slovak government has recently shifted its focus to the media, following its actions towards the judiciary. As a result, journalists at RTVS, the country’s public broadcaster, are feeling the pressure to conform to government standards. The government aims to have more control over the station and its reporting by replacing the current general director with someone more favorable to their agenda.
The culture minister, who is aligned with left-wing populist leader Robert Fico, has criticized RTVS for not allowing a variety of views in its reporting. However, this criticism has been met with widespread opposition and protest from thousands of people concerned about media freedom. Despite this opposition, the government has made some changes to their initial proposals but concerns about media freedom continue to grow among the population.
Fico’s government has also targeted private media outlets and journalists critical of the government. This pressure on private media is causing concern among journalists and media professionals in Slovakia. However, there is some optimism that Fico does not have the same level of control as leaders like Viktor Orban in Hungary. As a result, the situation in Slovakia is closely being watched by media freedom advocates both within and outside of the country.
In summary, while Fico’s government is taking radical steps to influence public channels and private media outlets alike are facing significant pressures from Fico’s regime. Despite these challenges, there is hope that Slovakia will maintain its commitment to press freedom and democratic values that make it unique among European countries today.