Slovak Prime Minister Fico Sues Editor Over Critical Book Cover

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is pursuing legal action against Peter Bárdy, editor-in-chief of investigative news outlet Aktuality.sk, over a book cover for "Fico – Obsessed with Power." Bárdy condemned the lawsuit as an intimidation tactic designed to silence critics, calling it a SLAPP suit (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) aimed at deterring journalists from reporting on Fico's activities. The editor characterized the legal action as "an absolute attack on freedom of speech and independent media," arguing that it seeks to discourage people from writing about the prime minister and exposing what he described as wrongdoing by Fico's governments and political circle. The court hearing in the case was scheduled to take place shortly after Bárdy's public comments.