News digest: Prominent MP threatens journalist with dismissal, accuses RTVS of 'jihad'
Life on the Slovak-Ukrainian border, ex-Smer MP convicted of fraud, a fundraiser for the Ukrainian army.
Good evening. Here is the Tuesday, April 16 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
Smer MP threatens a presenter with dismissal
The employees of the public-service media RTVS, which the Smer-led government wants to bring under its control, have condemned the statements made by pro-Russian politician and Deputy Speaker of Parliament Ľuboš Blaha towards TV presenter Marta Jančkárová.
Last Sunday, April 14, Blaha said on the political progamme “O 5 minút 12” that Jančkárová was “biassed” and “unprofessional” after she corrected his claims about the war in Ukraine. Blaha added, “You are now doing politics, not presenting.”
Before the end of the show, Jančkárová asked her colleagues to turn off Blaha’s microphone (1:11:30), as he did not respect Jančkárová’s repeated request to allow his opponent from the opposition to respond. The trio then discussed how hatred is growing in society following the presidential election.
“She could not handle the situation mentally, so she turned off my microphone,” the Smer MP mocked the journalist on social media.
Subsequently, Blaha also wrote on Telegram that the government had been given a clear mandate to handle the RTVS. He indirectly threatened the presenter with the termination of her contract.
“It’s time for biased and unprofessional journalists like Jančkárová to be removed from public space,” the MP wrote.
Jančkárová received death threats over a year ago.
Blaha noted that RTVS is getting more and more aggressive, and the government has to stop the public broadcaster’s jihad against the government. The presenter wrote on social media that the RTVS is not waging any jihad against Smer. During the last term, it was the most invited political party to the programme, she added.
Related: Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová (SNS nom.) plans to submit the law on RTVS to the government next week. She claims it’s ready. “It’s fully in line with European legislation,” she noted.
MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE
- Politics: A former Smer MP was found guilty of fraud on Tuesday.
- Politics: Judicial Council President Ján Mazák was removed from the post after a super-fast Tuesday vote, and despite his opposition.
- Culture: After many years in disrepair, the mill in Predajná, central Slovakia, is available to the public.
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FEATURE STORY
What is life like in Sobrance, the Slovak gateway to the EU?
The Slovak Spectator has launched a new project, which will introduce readers to several regions in eastern Slovakia. In the first story, from the Sobrance and Michalovce districts, they can read about what life is like for people living next to the Ukrainian border, including Andrew Ray from America.
Here are a few travel tips to see in this undiscovered and underrated region.
EVENT FOR THE WEEKEND
Bratislava City Days
Bratislava will open its city gates on Saturday morning on the Primate’s Square. Visitors can look forward to witnessing a love story, but also to mediaeval music, drums, fencing, and period costumes.
Many events will take place in the city on Saturday and Sunday.
IN OTHER NEWS
- The most trusted politician is president-elect Peter Pellegrini. According to the latest survey conducted by Focus agency on behalf of TV channel Markíza, 49 percent of the respondents said that they trust Pellegrini, while 50 percent expressed their distrust in him. Pellegrini was followed by President Zuzana Čaputová, PM Robert Fico, and the opposition leader Michal Šimečka.
- The Bratislava airport will add flights to new exotic destinations to the next winter flight schedule. Holidaymakers will be able to travel from the Slovak capital to two other islands - Phuket in Thailand and Mauritius in Africa. Čedok travel agency, which returned to the Slovak market in 2023, will offer flights to the islands in cooperation with the Italian airline Neos. (SITA)
- The International Monetary Fund worsened this year’s growth outlook for the Slovak economy to 2.1 percent. Last autumn, it expected the growth of 2.5 percent. The latest forecast is closer to the estimates of the Slovak Finance Ministry. (Denník N)
- Slovak NGOs have launched a fundraiser for ammunition for the Ukrainian army. The goal was to collect €250,000. The have collected almost €400,000 in two days. As the Denník N daily notes, the campaign kicked off on the day when PM Robert Fico and his Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár announced trips to China, Brazil, Cuba, and Azerbaijan - undemocratic regimes except for Brazil.
- HK Spišská Nová Ves became the second finalist of the Tipos top hockey league. They will face HK Nitra in the finals. For Spišská Nová Ves, it will be the first ever final, which will start on Friday in Spišská Nová Ves. (Sportnet)
WEATHER FOR WEDNESDAY: Wednesday’s forecast brings a mix of clouds with changeable conditions across Slovakia. Expect scattered showers, particularly in the northern and eastern areas. At higher elevations, around 1100 m and above, there’s a chance of snowfall. Daytime temperatures will range from 7°C to 15°C. (SHMÚ)
MAY 17 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Rudolf.
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