Voice Calls for Condemnation of Mockery Targeting Elderly

Bratislava, November 7 (TASR) - The Voice-SD party on Thursday called on both coalition and opposition representatives to condemn mockery targeting the elderly, while praising seniors' lifelong work, contribution and value-creation for society. Voice representatives stressed that people deserve a dignified and fulfilling retirement, not a denigrated and humiliated one. The elderly, according to them, have been creating values all their lives. "Many progressives and liberals, owners of universal truth, see pensioners as a kind of heavy burden that hinders the development of today's society, which, according to them, would progress much more easily and rapidly without them," said Voice MP Lubica Lassakova at a press conference, stressing that the elderly have good memories and their own opinions and are not easily deceived. Lassakova at the same time pointed to former MEP Lucia Duris Nicholsonova's remarks on the issue on Facebook, where she made comments about the elderly dying off. Lassakova claimed in this vein that society shouldn't be surprised that secondary-school students make fun of pensioners when such comments exist. Furthermore, Voice MP Michal Bartek announced that he's set to file a criminal complaint against Duris Nicholsonova for her comments. Meanwhile, head of the Slovak Pensioners Union (JDS) Michal Kotian, also present at the press conference, claimed that even he has received threats and can see continuous attacks on the elderly. The press conference came in reaction to a recent Halloween mask contest at a certain grammar school in Bratislava, to which a group of pupils came disguised as the elderly, with one of them carrying a banner stating: "I love Fico". Photos of the event on the internet unleashed a heated debate and a wave of threats and criticism against the pupils. The children have claimed that they didn't mean to insult the elderly, and they've even met JDS representatives in the meantime to clear up any misunderstanding. Meanwhile, Slovakia party MP Michal Sipos stressed that it should be Voice-SD leader and Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok who should apologise, as he was the one to throw a lit "fuse" between the pupils and the elderly because the children dared to make fun of how "government representatives lie to the elderly". On this note, Sipos pointed to the government's unkept promises concerning pensions and benefits and the fact the government recently raised ministers' salaries. zel/df