La Sexta's hit piece on Fico published on the day of the shooting
La Sexta published a critical profile of Fico while he was being operated on after the assassination attempt. Analysis of his expulsion from the PES and media bias.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
The 'portrait' of Fico that La Sens published on the day of the shooting
In mid-May 2024, while Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was undergoing surgery after being shot five times in Handlová, La Sens published a profile describing him as an "intolerably anti-immigration pro-Russian nationalist." Deutsche Welle rounded off the picture with a piece titled "when antiestéticar drives politics." The coincidence, impossible to measure, has raised an uncomfortable question: is this journalism or a settling of scores?
The same week, two critical takes
European media, especially those with continental reach, have turned Fico into a recurring target. The pro-Russian, anti-immigration label is nothing new, but it rarely appears so bluntly in news pieces about other leaders. His party's expulsion from the Party of European Socialists adds context: Fico celebrated it and responded with a dismissive remark about Western social democracy, claiming it no longer represents the working class.
The date as an uncomfortable detail
The key fact is the date of La Sens's article: 15 May 2024. That very day, the politician was shot. Publishing a "portrait" of a leader while he is on the operating table does not fit the image of a newsroom committed to rigor; rather, it seems like a deliberate decision. There is no official explanation, and no one is publicly asking whether the timing was reviewed. A sense of impunity lingers in the air.
In mid-May 2024, while Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was undergoing surgery after being shot five times in Handlová, La Sens published a profile describing him as an "intolerably anti-immigration pro-Russian nationalist." Deutsche Welle rounded off the picture with a piece titled "when antiestéticar drives politics." The coincidence, impossible to measure, has raised an uncomfortable question: is this journalism or a settling of scores?
The same week, two critical takes
European media, especially those with continental reach, have turned Fico into a recurring target. The pro-Russian, anti-immigration label is nothing new, but it rarely appears so bluntly in news pieces about other leaders. His party's expulsion from the Party of European Socialists adds context: Fico celebrated it and responded with a dismissive remark about Western social democracy, claiming it no longer represents the working class.
The date as an uncomfortable detail
The key fact is the date of La Sens's article: 15 May 2024. That very day, the politician was shot. Publishing a "portrait" of a leader while he is on the operating table does not fit the image of a newsroom committed to rigor; rather, it seems like a deliberate decision. There is no official explanation, and no one is publicly asking whether the timing was reviewed. A sense of impunity lingers in the air.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (20 replies).
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