The new Slovak government has taken a radical turn in its actions towards the judiciary and is now focusing on the media. The government is taking drastic measures to influence the reporting of public channels, with private media outlets also feeling the heat. In response to a proposed reform that would dissolve RTVS and reorganize it under a new name, STVR, journalists at the broadcaster wore all black in protest.
The government’s aim is to have more control over the station and its reporting, with plans to replace the current general director with someone more favorable to the government. This move has been met with widespread criticism and opposition from many quarters. Thousands of people have protested against these reforms and the erosion of media freedom in the country. Despite some changes made by the government to their initial proposals, concerns about media freedom continue to grow among Slovakians.
Fico’s government has also targeted private media outlets critical of the government, putting pressure on journalists who are critical of them. This has caused concern among journalists and media professionals in Slovakia as they fear for their safety and livelihoods. However, despite these challenges, there is some optimism that Fico does not have quite as much control as leaders like Viktor Orban in Hungary. The situation in Slovakia is being closely watched by media freedom advocates both within and outside of the country as they express concern about the erosion of press freedom in this once-promising democracy.