Simkovicova: No One Endangers Democracy in Slovakia, We Meet Our Promises

Bratislava, May 10 (TASR) - The government and the Culture Ministry are not here to implement the programmes of the opposition, progressive and liberal parties, but their own election promises and commitments, and no one is endangering democracy in Slovakia, Culture Minister Martina Simkovicova (SNS nominee) stated during the parliamentary debate on her ouster on Friday. Simkovicova criticised the polarisation of society and insults towards people with different opinion. "No one is endangering democracy in Slovakia. After three and half years of disintegration and decay, Slovakia finally has a democratically elected competent government with a visible Culture Ministry," claimed Simkovicova. Simkovicova blames the opposition for artificially poisoning society with discord and quarrelling, but also for spreading lies and insulting political opponents. She added that the previous government had nominated its own people into various posts, which is why the opposition convenes public protests to protect them. "I understand that it's hard for you to accept the election defeat and ousting government members has become a sort of public ritual to you," she told her critics. Simkovicova talked about the unification of the media environment, the supposed erosion of objectivity in Slovak journalism and political activism in it. "Mainstream media, including [public broadcaster] RTVS, disseminate the same information ideologically. They provide only limited or no room for other opinions," she said, adding that progressivism, neoliberalism, gender ideology and global liquidation of the sovereignty of nations have become de rigueur in mainstream media. This, in her view, translated into the rise of alternative media, which provide objective information. "The public has not lost interest in objective information," she added. The Culture Minister declared her readiness to hold a dialogue with artists from every part of the spectrum and rejected allegations of homophobia. In response, MP Zuzana Mesterova (PS) stated that the opposition represents a significant part of Slovakia. If the Culture Minister says that she won't pursue goals of the opposition, it means she doesn't respect the opinion of the other half of the country. "The fact that you acquired a mandate to govern the country in the election doesn't give you the right to misuse it and turn it against those who entrusted you with that governance, the civic society," noted Mesterova. mf/mcs