Prime Minister and liberals criticise RTVS

Prime Minister Robert Fico has complained that media have created a widespread impression that everything done in Slovakia is wrong. "The press has enormous freedom in this country. Our government has never restricted it. Some media totally take their freedom too far," he said during a discussion program hosted by the public broadcaster RTVS. He went on to say that he would not tolerate continual media attacks on the government. According to him, the public RTVS has lost its public-service character. The objectivity of RTVS was also questioned by the opposition SaS party. The liberals gave as an example radio debates to which no opponents of the Prime Minister or other ministers were invited. According to them, a radio presenter cannot replace such an opponent. "We call upon RTVS to stick to the principles of balance and objectivity," said the SaS party spokesperson Katarina Svrčeková.