Student organizations condemned Prime Minister Robert Fico’s statements regarding a student who did not shake the hand of President Petr Pellegrini when receiving the award. As stated by the Student Council of Universities (ŠRVŠ), together with the Alliance of High School Students and the Slovak Youth Council, they strongly condemn any form of physical and verbal violence. At the same time, they called on public officials to make responsible and conciliatory statements supporting constructive dialogue.
They are convinced that respect for others is important for building a democratic and cultural society. Student organizations responded to Prime Minister Fico’s statements. In response to the event at the Presidential Palace, where one of the award-winning students refused to shake the hand of President Peter Pellegrini, he published a status on the social network where he said that someone would need three slaps, and the first should be “anti-state media”, according to the Prime Minister. He described Simon Omaník, who did not want to shake hands with the head of state, in his status as an immature teenager with a Ukrainian flag on his suit. Student organizations consider such statements normalizing violence or calling for physical attacks to be unacceptable in a democratic society. “In recent days, we have witnessed sharp attacks and polarizing statements that are fueling tensions and creating a dangerous environment for young people to express their views,” they said.
The representatives of the student body also expressed their belief that freedom of speech and the opportunity to express their views are among the basic pillars of a democratic society. “It is important that we know how to present our opinions in a cultured manner, defend them with arguments, and at the same time approach other opinions with tolerance, although we do not necessarily have to agree with them,” they pointed out. They also pointed out that Slovakia is facing a large outflow of young and talented people who go abroad. They warn that efforts to keep them in Slovakia will be useless if individuals are bullied for expressing their opinion. Student organizations are also of the opinion that such behavior demotivates young people and undermines efforts to create an attractive environment for their development and future in Slovakia. “We appeal to all citizens and above all to political representatives to realize their responsibility in shaping the public debate and to support an atmosphere in which everyone can express themselves freely and without fear. We are convinced that only an open and respectful dialogue can lead to positive changes in our society,” concluded ŠRVŠ, the Alliance of High School Students and the Slovak Youth Council.
Source: spravy.pravda.sk
