Bratislava, May 17 (TASR) - The path to reconciliation doesn't lead through false political correctness and even though Smer-SD understands the initiative to convene a meeting of all parliamentary parties' heads after Prime Minister Robert Fico's (Smer-SD) shooting, the fact remains that Fico is in hospital today, Vice-premier Robert Kalinak (Smer-SD) said on Friday and added that the only recourse lies in self-reflection.

According to Kalinak, it can't be disputed that society needs reconciliation and mutual respect. "The path to it, however, doesn't lead through false political correctness. Not until we deal with existing rhetoric by politicians, selected media and journalists that was based on daily labelling of Robert Fico as a criminal, mobster, murderer, dictator, [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's lackey and evil that needs to be stopped," underlined Kalinak.

The attempt on Fico's life has tarnished the quality of democracy in Slovakia in the most fundamental way. "Since the [2023] parliamentary election, society hasn't seen a meeting of the three top constitutional officials, which is why we understand the initiative to convene the roundtable of parliamentary parties' chairs. However, chair of Smer-SD Robert Fico is in hospital at the moment," noted Kalinak.