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  • Media Self-reliance at Danger as Slovak Legislators Tighten Up Grip

    Media Self-reliance at Danger as Slovak Legislators Tighten Up Grip

    (Bloomberg) — Legislators in Slovakia authorized an overhaul of public media, successfully putting broadcasters under federal government control in a relocation slammed by the opposition and worldwide companies for weakening press self-reliance.

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    Since July, the judgment union will choose its own prospects to the governing bodies of Slovak public tv and radio after lawmakers in Bratislava backed the step Thursday.

    The primary opposition celebration stated it will challenge the law in the Constitutional Court. Lubos Machaj, the existing head of public media who will be instantly ousted once the law works, stated it was “a black day for the media landscape and for civil society in Slovakia.”

    Anti-media belief has actually magnified after an assassination effort last month on Prime Minister Robert Fico, which he blamed on a hostile environment sustained by the press and the opposition. His administration has actually regularly slammed protection in the European Union member state, calling it prejudiced or anti-government.

    “The general public media are not unbiased due to the fact that they remain in direct dispute with the Slovak federal government,” Fico stated in April when proposing the expense. He declared that “the standard right of Slovak residents to gain access to unbiased details is breached.”

    The minister accountable for media has actually slammed the general public broadcaster for out of balance reporting, especially relating to the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, declaring that they provide just the mainstream view.

    At the very same time, Fico and his allies applaud “alternative” media that prevent important protection and echo the premier’s primary stories, consisting of criticism of pandemic steps and vaccines throughout Covid-19, in addition to spreading out conspiracies about the war.

    The administration has actually likewise dealt with criticism for utilizing monetary pressures to soften personal media outlets, matching policies of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

    Slovak reporters have actually warned versus the “Orbanization” of media. The host of the most-watched personal tv channel just recently implicated the management of political pressures in favor of the judgment union in an unanticipated on-air remark.

    Reporters Without Borders has actually likewise alerted the law might break the European Media Flexibility Act, which participated in force last month to protect media pluralism and self-reliance within the EU bloc.

    Slovakia’s premier has actually drawn examination from Brussels considering that his go back to workplace in October, while his choice to revamp the criminal code and ditch an unique district attorney’s workplace stimulated public demonstrations.

    Fico’s previous federal government stint ended 5 years back when he was required to resign in the middle of nationwide outrage over the murder of an investigative reporter.

    Slovakia has actually dropped from 17th to 29th location in journalism flexibility index considering that Fico’s go back to power. Pavol Szalai, head of the EU-Balkans desk at Reporters Without Borders, sees the threat of more decrease.

    “A fight is occurring in Slovakia over whether the media will stay pluralistic and neutral,” Szalai stated in an interview recently.

    (Updates with opposition, media response in 3rd paragraph.)

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  • Fico ally Peter Pellegrini sworn in as Slovakia’s president

    Fico ally Peter Pellegrini sworn in as Slovakia’s president

    Peter Pellegrini, a close ally of left-wing populist Prime Minister Robert Fico, was sworn in as president of Slovakia on Saturday.

    The 48-year-old took the oath of workplace in an event at the Slovak Philharmonic in Bratislava in front of members of parliament.

    Pellegrini won the run-off election in April with 53.1% of the vote, vanquishing previous foreign minister Ivan Korčok.

    Ukraine included plainly in the project, with Pellegrini promoting a mindful position on arms shipment to Kiev – a position that remains in line with Russia-friendly Fico.

    Pellegrini formerly worked as prime minister from 2018 to 2020 and as parliamentary speaker.

    The incumbent Zuzana Čaputová, an attorney and rights activist, did not run for a 2nd five-year term in spite of her ongoing appeal as president.

    Pellegrini’s Voice – Social Democracy celebration becomes part of Slovakia’s governing union, led by Fico. The conservative populist Slovak National Celebration (SNS) is likewise part of the fractious union.

    Presidents in Slovakia have couple of executive powers, although they can ban laws. The president is commander-in-chief of the militaries and represents the nation of almost 5.5 million in sees abroad.

    With the swearing-in of Pellegrini, the left-wing nationalist camp now holds the 2 crucial political workplaces in the nation.

    The opposition fears that the union will now press through questionable strategies such as the proposed dissolution of the general public radio and tv broadcaster RTVS.

    Slovakia and its fellow EU members were stunned by an assassination effort versus Fico last month that left the prime minister seriously hurt.

    President-elect of the Slovak Republic Peter Pellegrini arrives at the ceremonial meeting of the National Council of the Slovak Republic on the occasion of his swearing-in. Jaroslav Novák/TASR/dpa

    President-elect of the Slovak Republic Peter Pellegrini reaches the ritualistic conference of the National Council of the Slovak Republic on the celebration of his swearing-in. Jaroslav Novák/TASR/dpa

  • Italy’s Meloni tops surveys as EU elections go into 3rd day

    Italy’s Meloni tops surveys as EU elections go into 3rd day

    Italy’s firebrand Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is ballot well ahead of her competitors as Italians, Estonians, Latvians, Maltese, Czechs and Slovakians go to enact the European Parliament elections on Saturday.

    Meloni might be poised to function as kingmaker for the next European Commission president if her Sibling of Italy (FdI) makes significant gains.

    Incumbent Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has actually been honestly courting Meloni in the hope of winning the confirmatory votes of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, a pan-European soft-eurosceptic bloc that Meloni now leads and whose ranks FdI prospects intend to sign up with if chosen to the European Parliament.

    As the EU’s third-most populated nation, Italy can send out an overall of 76 delegates to the 720-seat European Parliament, putting anybody who wins huge there in an effective position at EU level.

    According to a “survey of surveys” assembled by the news site Politico, the conservative FdI remains in top place with 27%, 6 points ahead of the centre-left Democratic Celebration.

    Saturday marks the 3rd day of 4 in the EU-wide elections, in which various nations vote on various days. It’s ballot day for Latvia, Malta and Slovakia; the 2nd and last day of ballot for the Czech Republic, and the very first of 2 for Italy and Estonia.

    Slovakia’s left-wing nationalist Prime Minister Robert Fico has actually come out battling on Wednesday after making it through an assassination effort on Might 15 that stunned Europe. Fico was shot numerous times in an attack that appears to have actually been politically encouraged.

    The recuperating prime minister released a video on Wednesday in which stated “an activist of the Slovak opposition” had actually performed the effort on his life,” including there was no factor to think the attack was the act of a “only lunatic.”

    He cast his vote in a healthcare facility in Bratislava. The 59-year-old published an image on Facebook on Saturday of himself leaning on a crutch and placing his tally paper into a mobile tally box.

    “We should choose MPs who support peace efforts and not the extension of war,” he composed in regard to Ukraine. After he took workplace in October, Slovakia stopped state arms shipment to Ukraine, which has actually been warding off a major Russian intrusion for more than 2 years.

    Fico’s celebration SMER is leading in the surveys at 23%, 2 points ahead of the liberal Progressive Slovakia celebration.

    The very first initial outcomes suggesting the structure of the next European Parliament will just come late on Sunday night, after every member of the 27-nation bloc has actually voted. These will be upgraded throughout the early hours of Monday.

  • Slovaks and others go to the surveys in EU elections under the shadow of an assassination effort

    Slovaks and others go to the surveys in EU elections under the shadow of an assassination effort

    PRAGUE (AP) — Citizens in Slovakia, Italy and other European Union countries are casting their tallies Saturday on the 3rd day of elections for the European Parliament, with populist and reactionary celebrations seeking to make gains throughout the 27-member bloc.

    In Slovakia, the election was eclipsed by an effort to assassinate populist Prime Minister Robert Fico on Might 15, sending out shockwaves through the country of 5.4 million and resounding throughout Europe. Experts state the attack might improve the opportunities of the premier’s leftist Smer (Instructions) celebration, the senior partner in the governing union, to win the vote.

    Fico, who took workplace last fall after marketing on a pro-Russian and anti-American platform, has actually been recuperating from several injuries after being shot in the abdominal area as he welcomed advocates in the town of Handlova.

    He recuperated in time to deal with the country in a prerecorded video, his very first public declaration considering that the attack, simply hours before the start of the preelection silence duration on Wednesday.

    Although Fico didn’t talk straight about the vote, he assaulted the European Union, recommending he was a victim due to the fact that of his views that vary dramatically from the European mainstream.

    Fico highly opposes assistance for Ukraine in its war versus Russia’s full-blown intrusion. He ended Slovakia’s military help for Ukraine after his union federal government was sworn in on Oct. 25. He likewise opposes EU sanctions on Russia and wishes to obstruct Ukraine from signing up with NATO.

    Mainstream media, non-governmental companies and the liberal opposition were likewise to blame for the assassination effort, according to Fico, a claims duplicated by political leaders in his governing union.

    Soňa Szomolányi, a government teacher at Comenius University in Bratislava, stated the timing of Fico’s message was “no coincidence.”

    “It just verifies that the judgment union has actually been utilizing the assassination (effort) expediently and obviously successfully,” Szomolányi stated. As an outcome, “a mobilization of the advocates of Smer (at the election) can be anticipated,” she stated.

    In Italy, residents aged 18 and above are casting tallies over 2 days to fill 76 European parliamentary seats, beginning Saturday.

    Premier Giorgia Meloni is anticipated to be the huge winner, showing her reactionary Sibling of Italy’s development, mainly at the expenditure of her union partners, the populist, anti-migrant League and the center-right Forza Italia. While the vote is not anticipated to impact the balance in the governing union, the outcome might broaden Meloni’s impact in the European Union, as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has actually not dismissed a union with her group.

    Taking advantage of her appeal, Meloni is running as the preferential prospect, although she has no intent of taking a European parliamentary seat.

    Citizens in Latvia, Malta, and the Czech Republic were likewise casting tallies Saturday. Results will not be launched up until Sunday night, as soon as every nation has actually voted. The primary ballot day is Sunday, with residents in 20 European nations, consisting of Germany, France and Poland, casting their tallies for the 720-seat European Parliament.

    Seats are assigned based upon population, varying from 6 in Malta or Luxembourg to 96 in Germany.

    In Slovakia, Fico’s Smer celebration remains in a close race versus the primary opposition Progressive Slovakia, a pro-Western liberal celebration.

    Fico’s federal government has actually made efforts to upgrade public broadcasting — a relocation critics stated would provide the federal government complete control of public tv and radio.

    That, in addition to his strategies to modify the chastening code to remove an unique anti-graft district attorney, has actually led challengers to stress that he would lead Slovakia down a more autocratic course, following the instructions of surrounding Hungary under populist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

    Thousands have actually consistently rallied in the capital and throughout Slovakia to object Fico’s policies.

    Aneta Világi, an expert from Comenius University, stated that Smer’s possible success ”will be analyzed by the union celebrations as proof that a bulk of citizens still concur with the instructions they’re using to the nation.”

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    Associated Press author Colleen Barry in Milan contributed reporting.

  • NATO chief ‘shocked and appalled’ by shooting of Slovak PM Fico

    NATO chief ‘shocked and appalled’ by shooting of Slovak PM Fico

    The secretary general of the NATO military alliance said he’s “shocked and appalled” by the shooting of Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico.

    “Shocked and appalled by the shooting of Prime Minister Robert Fico. I wish him strength for a speedy recovery,” Jens Stoltenberg wrote on X. “My thoughts are with Robert Fico, his loved ones, and the people of Slovakia.”

    Slovakia joined NATO in 2004, the same year it joined the European Union.

    NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg takes part in a press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in the Chancellery. Hannes P Albert/dpa

    NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg takes part in a press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in the Chancellery. Hannes P Albert/dpa

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  • Ally of Russia-Friendly Leader Wins Presidential Election in Slovakia

    Ally of Russia-Friendly Leader Wins Presidential Election in Slovakia

    (Bloomberg) — Peter Pellegrini was elected Slovakia’s president in a boost to Russia-friendly Prime Minister Robert Fico, who has been a staunch opponent of military aid to Ukraine.

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    Pellegrini, parliament speaker and a member of Fico’s ruling coalition, won 53.1% of the vote, beating pro-European Union diplomat Ivan Korcok, according to official results published on Sunday.

    The presidential victory will strengthen forces within the EU that oppose sending more weapons for Kyiv at the time when it appears increasingly outgunned by Russia following two years of fighting.

    During the campaign, Pellegrini accused Korcok, who advocated supporting Ukraine, of wanting to drag the country into war. The new head of state will now represent Slovakia at the meetings of leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

    “I’ll do everything to ensure that Slovakia remains on the side of peace and not war, and let anyone criticize me for it if they want,” Pellegrini told reporters in Bratislava after announcing his victory.

    Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto congratulated Pellegrini with a statement calling his election win a boost to “pro-sovereignty and pro-peace forces.”

    Russia has recently stepped up the tempo of its ground operations, along with intensified airstrikes, including bombardments of its neighbor’s energy infrastructure. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has urged the US to provide more support as Congress remains deadlocked on funding additional military aid to Kyiv.

    Since returning to power last year, Fico has aligned himself with Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban as the most pro-Russia leader in the region. He has irked the EU’s mainstream and its allies by criticizing NATO and saying he intends to normalize ties with Moscow.

    The Slovak four-time premier has also triggered public protests and scrutiny from the EU for his decisions to curb the fight against corruption and suppress independent media. The presidential victory would ease his path to approving legislation and appointments of key public officials.

    As a parliament speaker, Pellegrini has played a crucial role in pushing through Fico’s contested judicial overhaul, which has raised alarm in the EU. He signaled on Sunday his support for prime minister’s agenda will continue.

    ‘Yes-Man’

    Pellegrini began his political career in 2002 as an assistant to a lawmaker from Fico’s Smer party. He was elected a member of parliament in 2006, and since then, his ascent within the political sphere has been notable. He acted as a deputy finance minister, education minister, parliament speaker, deputy prime minister for investment, and prime minister.

    His trajectory, marked by almost two decades of unwavering allegiance to Robert Fico and Smer party, earned him among his critics the moniker of a “yes-man.”

    “The government can count on that — as long as it fulfills its program — it doesn’t have to fear that the presidential palace will become an opposition center harming the cabinet, as it was in the past,” Pellegrini said in his victory speech.

    –With assistance from Andras Gergely.

    (Updates with Hungarian minister’s comment in the sixth paragraph.)

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  • Hungary, Slovakia remain opposed to sending any arms to Ukraine to fight Russia’s invasion

    Hungary, Slovakia remain opposed to sending any arms to Ukraine to fight Russia’s invasion

    PRAGUE (AP) — Four Central European countries remain deeply divided over how to resolve Russia’s war against Ukraine, their foreign ministers said Thursday.

    The foreign ministers from the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia met Thursday and discussed a Czech plan to acquire ammunition that Ukraine badly needs from third countries outside the European Union.

    “It’s necessary to boost support for Ukraine in all areas including military assistance,” Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said.

    Under the plan, the Czechs seek to obtain 800,000 artillery shells for Ukraine. Czech leaders previously said the first shells should be delivered to Ukraine no later than June.

    At least 18 countries have joined the initiative, Czech leaders have previously said.

    Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski called the Czech plan an “excellent idea.”

    “We’re very happy to contribute,” he said. Sikorski said Poland would contribute funds as well as help deliver the ammunition to the front.

    But the foreign ministers of Hungary and Slovakia said they are not ready to change their strict refusal to provide arms to Ukraine.

    “Hungary has not and will not send any weapons to Ukraine,” Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said.

    Slovakia’s view has not changed because “the conflict doesn’t have a military solution,” its foreign minister, Juraj Blanar, said.

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    Follow the AP’s coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

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