Slovakia’s prime minister Robert Fico has accused the press of creating an atmosphere of hate that encouraged a gunman to shoot him

Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico has accused mainstream journalists of being “possessed by the devil” and suggested establishing a national media watchdog to rein in the “hate” being spread by reporters.

During a press conference on Tuesday, Fico, who survived an assassination attempt by a reportedly pro-Kiev shooter following sustained media criticism of his position on Ukraine, became visibly agitated when asked about tensions within his three-party governing coalition.

”From the first day, when the results of the parliamentary elections came in, you went against us like bloodthirsty bastards from morning to night,” Fico said, dismissing any notion of a government crisis.

“Do you read your articles after you’ve written them? I don’t think you do… It’s pure hate. You’re possessed by the devil,” he said. He singled out the major Slovak daily papers Dennik N and Sme, and the Aktuality.sk portal, which have been highly critical of his government since he returned to power for a fourth term after his Slovak Social Democracy (SMER-SD) party won the election last September.

You just want to do wrong at any cost, and that’s why the atmosphere in Slovakia is like this. Why did they shoot me in the stomach?

The prime minister expressed support for establishing a “national media authority” and “sanctions” for journalists who fail to correct errors in their reporting. He also suggested that journalists should undergo requalification courses, similar to those required for lawyers and public notaries.

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”You should perhaps also be part of some professional associations, where you would face disciplinary procedures, similar to lawyers,” Fico said, stressing that his government needs to take action because “such a media mess as we have in Slovakia doesn’t exist in any other EU country.”

The comments were swiftly condemned by opposition politicians, with some accusing Fico of attacking freedom of speech.

“The idea of a national media authority that would control journalists is nothing more than a thinly veiled effort to censor and limit the media, which exists perhaps only in North Korea,” said lawmaker Zora Jaurova from the liberal opposition party Progressive Slovakia.

The chair of the For the People party, Veronika Remisova, argued that by referring to journalists as “bloodthirsty bastards,” the prime minister and his “cronies” are themselves spreading hatred.

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Fico was shot and critically injured on May 15 in the town of Handlova while greeting a crowd. A 71-year-old suspect was arrested at the scene and charged with attempted murder and terrorism.

In June, the Slovak prime minister argued that the assassination attempt was orchestrated by foreign-backed politicians who refuse to accept policies prioritizing Bratislava’s interests over the agendas of major Western powers. He also warned against efforts by adversaries – including media outlets bankrolled by billionaire political activist George Soros – to downplay the implications of the shooting.

”I want to ask the anti-government media, especially those co-owned by George Soros’ financial structure, not to go down this path and to respect not only the gravity of the reasons for the attempted murder but also the consequences of this attempt,” Fico said at the time.