Opposition Blames Coalition for Slovakia's Fall in Freedom of Press Rankings

Bratislava, May 3 (TASR) - The opposition has attacked the governing coalition for its approach to the media and the legislative steps that it is preparing, blaming it for Slovakia's fall in the Freedom of the Press rankings, in which Slovakia has dropped by 12 places to 29th on a list of 180. The ranking is based on a report by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). "All indications are that the situation in the rankings will only get worse. It's an international disgrace, and this international disgrace will be repeated. And this isn't just the shame of the coalition party chairs. The responsibility for this result will be borne by all MPs who vote in the House for the nationalisation of [public-service broadcaster] RTVS," said MP Gabor Grendel ('Slovakia', For the People, KU caucus), slamming the coalition parties for their attitude towards journalists, their refusal to answer questions from certain media outlets and for legitimising those who expose journalists to hate speech on the internet. He stressed that free media, non-profit organisations and law-enforcement bodies should be part of any democratic state. "A free and independent media environment and the protection of journalists has perhaps never been as important as it is now. We'll do everything we can to ensure that these harmful and undemocratic plans of the Slovak government in the sphere of the media don't become a reality," stressed Progressive Slovakia MP Zora Jaurova. In her opinion, Slovakia's fall in the rankings is a direct consequence of the government's attempts to control the public media and attacks on journalists. The extra-parliamentary Democrats party warned of the risk that key media in Slovakia will be controlled by the government, which it believes will lead to the censorship of information. Party member and former premier Eduard Heger pointed out that under his government Slovakia ranked 17th in the Freedom of the Press rankings, while the protection of journalists was strengthened and the way in which RTVS was run was improved. am/df