Slovak Minister Claims His Party is 'Saving Democracy' by Blocking Media Authority

Rudolf Huliak, leader of the Village Party and Slovakia's Sports Minister, declared his party is protecting democracy by blocking the establishment of a National Media Authority in parliament. Huliak dismissed the current government crisis as a "storm in a teacup" and predicted that Tomáš Taraba will remain a minister through September, while claiming coalition partner Andrej Danko "came out looking like a fool again." The Village Party is part of Slovakia's ruling coalition alongside the dominant Smer-SD party and the Slovak National Party led by Danko. The blocked media authority has been criticized by opposition parties as a potential tool for government censorship of independent media. Separately, Huliak defended his ministry's decision to allocate 900,000 euros for a one-time tournament in an unrecognized sport that was played before empty stands, while promising that Slovak hockey players will deliver better results in the coming years.