The return of left-wing populist Robert Fico to power in Slovakia has raised concerns about the growing threat to press freedom in the country.

Fico Learns from Orban

Left-wing populist Robert Fico, back in power in Slovakia for almost a month now, appears to be taking lessons from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. While Fico has adopted a more moderate approach in foreign policy, critics are concerned about the growing danger to press freedom within the country.

Press Freedom Threatened

In Slovakia, it would normally be unremarkable for journalists to have access to the government seat in Bratislava. After all, Slovakia is a democratic country and a member of the EU. However, Fico’s return to power in October marked a shift in his attitude towards critical media. The Prime Minister now refers to some of them as “hostile media”.

Unwanted Guests

Fico has publicly accused the most-watched TV channel, Markiza, the newspapers “Dennik N” and “Sme,” and the online portal Aktuality of expressing hatred and enmity towards his left-national Smer party. In a Facebook video, Fico announced that he would be reviewing their work permits in the government seat, considering them “unwanted guests” until further notice.

Concerns for Press Freedom

While these media outlets still have access for now and have threatened legal action, there are growing concerns that Fico, in his fourth term as Prime Minister, may seek to restrict free reporting. Some fear that Fico may be taking cues from Orban in neighboring Hungary, potentially undermining the foundations of Slovakia’s young democracy.

Motivated by Impunity and Revenge

Fico, at 59 years old, aims to reform the prosecutor’s office and has already replaced the police chief with a trusted individual. Critics, such as liberal opposition leader Michal Simecka, argue that revenge is the primary motivation driving Fico’s government, referring to it as “impunity and revenge”. This revenge stems from Fico’s fall from power after the murder of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kusnirova in 2018. Fico was ousted from office following mass protests, as he represented a country marred by corruption – the very corruption Kuciak had been investigating. Although Fico himself was never charged, investigations against him and his associates continue, often with little success.

Boosted by Pro-Russia Rhetoric

Fico’s election campaign was marked by pro-Russia rhetoric, which gained him popularity. His coalition, consisting of the social-democratic Hlas party and the smaller right-nationalist SNS, holds a slim majority along with pro-Russian spreaders of disinformation and conspiracy theorists. This boost in popularity further raises concerns about Fico’s intentions.

Calls for “Balanced” Reporting

Blaming critical journalists for his political downfall, Fico accuses them of biased and untruthful reporting. He declared in a parliamentary declaration that Slovakia should not be dictated by media or NGOs. The four media outlets he considers “hostile” are privately owned, with Kuciak having worked for Aktuality. Many newspapers in Slovakia tend to have a progressive-liberal orientation. Fico has persistently demanded that journalists provide “balanced” reporting and allocate more space for conservative and national voices.

Government Intervention in Public Broadcasting

In addition to his concerns with private media, Fico also intends to intervene in the operations of public broadcasting and separate radio and television. His government has direct control over the budget, as Slovaks have stopped paying broadcast fees since July, resulting in public broadcasting being funded directly from the state budget.

Media Professionals as Long-Time Enemies

Fico, known for his pro-Russia and Orban-friendly stance, has long viewed media professionals as enemies, often insulting them as corrupt or “anti-Slovak whores,” while rarely engaging with them. As Prime Minister, he now distinguishes between “friendly” and “hostile” media, deliberately obstructing unfavorable reporting about his government. This trend has weakened democracy and is not only unacceptable but also dangerous, particularly in a country where a journalist was murdered by contract killers for his work.

Media professionals, including Matus Kostolny, the editor-in-chief of “Dennik N,” refuse to be silenced and plan to continue reporting critically. However, they can hardly hope for an interview with the Prime Minister, as Fico has announced a boycott of the “hostile” media.