in Slovakia, public media in turmoil after the assassination attempt on the Prime Minister

After the assassination attempt against Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, the government accuses the media of having contributed to the radicalization of the alleged perpetrator. In a video published after his arrest, he denounces the law that the Slovak government wishes to adopt in the coming weeks, aiming to take control of public television and radio.

In the public radio studios, the mines are serious and the findings are implacable. Kristína Chrenková is presenter: “This is really terrible news for the whole of Slovakia and of course for us, the journalists. I think the situation will get worse. We have already seen this in the reaction of some politicians who presented us as atrocious pigs .” Despite the government’s call for calm, in fact, some members of the coalition are letting loose on social networks, particularly since the publication of this video of the main suspect in the assassination attempt on the Prime Minister.

Sonia Weissowa is the head of international news at public radio RTVS: “Indeed, in this video, the suspect is talking about us. By doing that, he is somehow putting a target on our front. Since then, certain politicians have not stopped accusing us of being responsible for what he happened. But the truth, and that’s why it happened, it’s the level of hatred put up by politicians on social media that is totally out of control.”

From now on, for presenters, every word counts, every question is likely to upset those in power. A situation which makes this journalist say that “now, after this attack, my personal feeling is that freedom of the press died this Tuesday, May 15. We are afraid now. I have lots of colleagues who come to see me and who tell me that they cannot feel safer and that’s because of the incessant attacks against us.” For the moment, parliamentary sessions are suspended. Public radio employees do not know when the law which will allow them to take control will be passed.