Students reject Fico's words about "three slaps". They warn of bullying that forces people to leave Slovakia

Their reaction came after Prime Minister Robert Fico said "Someone here needs three slaps" in connection with the Simon Omaník incident.

Organisations representing students and youth find such words unacceptable and warn against the normalisation of violence in a democratic society.

"It is important to be able to present our positions in a cultured manner, to defend them with arguments, and at the same time to approach other opinions with tolerance, even if we do not necessarily agree with them," they said in their statement.

The organisations said such statements by public figures do not help to reduce tensions in society and, on the contrary, can fuel aggression and discourage young people from participating in public life. They also warn that an atmosphere in which young people are bullied for expressing their opinions may have long-term negative consequences for the future of Slovakia.

"All efforts to retain young talent in Slovakia will go to waste if bullying is unleashed against individuals in our country simply because they have expressed an opinion," their statement reads. The organisations warn that such an environment could further strengthen the outflow of young people abroad.

They call for responsible behaviour

The Student Council of Universities, the Alliance of Secondary School Students and the Youth Council of Slovakia have called on political leaders to take a responsible approach to public statements.

"We appeal to all citizens and especially to political leaders to be aware of their responsibility in shaping public debate and to foster an atmosphere in which everyone can express themselves freely and without fear," they said.

According to the organisations, it is essential to foster a culture of respect and dialogue in Slovak society that will lead to positive change. "We are convinced that only open and respectful dialogue can lead to positive changes in our society," they concluded.

What happened?

The students' statement is a reaction to an event that took place during a ceremony to honour students who represented Slovakia in international subject Olympiads.

After accepting the award, Omaník refused to shake hands with President Petro Pellegrini, which he subsequently justified to Denník N by saying that in his opinion the head of state had won the election by fraud and by attacking the lowest emotions of the citizens.

Prime Minister Fico reacted sharply to the event. He posted a lengthy statement on the social network Facebook in which he criticised the student and spoke of decent behaviour and respect for the presidential office. In the past, Robert Fico has called President Zuzana Čaputová a "rat" or an "American agent".