EU State’s PM Says Journalists are ‘possessed by the devil’
Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico has issued a warning regarding the potential creation of a national media oversight body and the implementation of qualification exams for journalists. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico has accused mainstream journalists of fostering a climate of hatred that he claims incited a gunman to attack him.
Fico, who survived an assassination attempt by a shooter allegedly aligned with pro-Kiev sentiments, expressed his grievances during a press conference on Tuesday. He became visibly disturbed when questioned about the tensions within his three-party governing coalition, attributing the atmosphere of hostility to media criticism of his stance on Ukraine.
“From the first day, when the results of the parliamentary elections came in, you went against us like bloodthirsty bastards from morning to night,” Fico remarked, dismissing any suggestion of a government crisis. He criticized journalists directly, asking, “Do you read your articles after you’ve written them? I don’t think you do… It’s pure hate. You’re possessed by the devil.” He specifically called out well-known Slovak publications such as Dennik N, Sme, and Aktuality.sk, which have consistently opposed him since he resumed power following his party's victory in September's elections.
Fico questioned, “You just want to do wrong at any cost, and that’s why the atmosphere in Slovakia is like this. Why did they shoot me in the stomach?”
In response to what he termed as media excess, the prime minister proposed the establishment of a “national media authority” that would impose “sanctions” on journalists who do not rectify inaccuracies in their reporting. He also suggested that journalists should be required to take requalification courses, similar to those mandated for legal professionals.
“You should perhaps also be part of some professional associations, where you would face disciplinary procedures, similar to lawyers,” he stated, emphasizing the urgency for his government to address what he described as an unparalleled media situation in Slovakia compared to other EU nations.
Fico's remarks drew immediate backlash from opposition lawmakers, who accused him of undermining press freedom. Lawmaker Zora Jaurova from the liberal party Progressive Slovakia criticized the idea of a national media authority, calling it a "thinly veiled effort to censor and limit the media, which exists perhaps only in North Korea." Veronika Remisova, chair of the For the People party, contended that Fico's description of journalists as "bloodthirsty bastards" only serves to propagate hatred.
Fico was shot and seriously injured on May 15 in Handlova while addressing a crowd. A 71-year-old suspect was apprehended at the scene and faces charges of attempted murder and terrorism.
In June, he alleged that the shooting was planned by foreign-supported politicians who oppose his government’s focus on Slovakia’s interests over those of major Western powers. He cautioned that certain adversarial media, funded by billionaire activist George Soros, were seeking to diminish the seriousness of the assassination attempt’s implications. “I want to ask the anti-government media, especially those co-owned by George Soros’ financial structure, not to go down this path and to respect not only the gravity of the reasons for the attempted murder but also the consequences of this attempt,” he remarked at the time.
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
Fico, who survived an assassination attempt by a shooter allegedly aligned with pro-Kiev sentiments, expressed his grievances during a press conference on Tuesday. He became visibly disturbed when questioned about the tensions within his three-party governing coalition, attributing the atmosphere of hostility to media criticism of his stance on Ukraine.
“From the first day, when the results of the parliamentary elections came in, you went against us like bloodthirsty bastards from morning to night,” Fico remarked, dismissing any suggestion of a government crisis. He criticized journalists directly, asking, “Do you read your articles after you’ve written them? I don’t think you do… It’s pure hate. You’re possessed by the devil.” He specifically called out well-known Slovak publications such as Dennik N, Sme, and Aktuality.sk, which have consistently opposed him since he resumed power following his party's victory in September's elections.
Fico questioned, “You just want to do wrong at any cost, and that’s why the atmosphere in Slovakia is like this. Why did they shoot me in the stomach?”
In response to what he termed as media excess, the prime minister proposed the establishment of a “national media authority” that would impose “sanctions” on journalists who do not rectify inaccuracies in their reporting. He also suggested that journalists should be required to take requalification courses, similar to those mandated for legal professionals.
“You should perhaps also be part of some professional associations, where you would face disciplinary procedures, similar to lawyers,” he stated, emphasizing the urgency for his government to address what he described as an unparalleled media situation in Slovakia compared to other EU nations.
Fico's remarks drew immediate backlash from opposition lawmakers, who accused him of undermining press freedom. Lawmaker Zora Jaurova from the liberal party Progressive Slovakia criticized the idea of a national media authority, calling it a "thinly veiled effort to censor and limit the media, which exists perhaps only in North Korea." Veronika Remisova, chair of the For the People party, contended that Fico's description of journalists as "bloodthirsty bastards" only serves to propagate hatred.
Fico was shot and seriously injured on May 15 in Handlova while addressing a crowd. A 71-year-old suspect was apprehended at the scene and faces charges of attempted murder and terrorism.
In June, he alleged that the shooting was planned by foreign-supported politicians who oppose his government’s focus on Slovakia’s interests over those of major Western powers. He cautioned that certain adversarial media, funded by billionaire activist George Soros, were seeking to diminish the seriousness of the assassination attempt’s implications. “I want to ask the anti-government media, especially those co-owned by George Soros’ financial structure, not to go down this path and to respect not only the gravity of the reasons for the attempted murder but also the consequences of this attempt,” he remarked at the time.
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
