Roman Pataj, Head of Opinion and Commentary at Denník N, argues that Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok’s handling of a student costume incident at a Bratislava high school has dangerously escalated public hostility towards students and teachers. Pataj suggests that Eštok’s intervention, instead of preserving public safety, has inflamed tensions to the point where police protection became necessary.
Background and Ministerial Intervention
According to Pataj, the controversy began when students from Gymnázium Bilíkova in Bratislava held a Halloween carnival. A student group dressed up as elderly people, with one student holding a sign that read “I love Fico”—a nod to a popular viral video, not intended as a political message. However, this costume sparked backlash after Michal Kotian, head of the Slovak Pensioners’ Association and an ally of Hlas leader Peter Pellegrini, labelled it offensive and announced plans to report the incident to the school inspectorate.
Pataj asserts that Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok worsened the situation by posting a video on social media in which he connected the students’ costume to political propaganda, historical totalitarianism, and even an assassination attempt on the Prime Minister. In Pataj’s view, Eštok’s statements were inflammatory, framing the students’ innocent actions as part of a broader political agenda. This, he claims, was a calculated move to energise Eštok’s political base, which resulted in a wave of hostility online, forcing Principal Daniel Kasala to call in the police to manage the situation.
Public Safety Concerns and Political Calculations
Pataj criticises Eštok for neglecting his duty to protect students and teachers, asserting that the minister should have known the risks of inciting public anger online. With Eštok’s experience in internet discourse, Pataj believes he should have foreseen the real-world consequences of his rhetoric. Instead of prioritising the safety of the students, Pataj argues that Eštok’s actions placed them in harm’s way and exposed them to public backlash, raising questions about his true motivations.
The article draws parallels to a recent incident at Gymnázium Ľudovíta Štúra in Trenčín, where extremist members of the Republika party condemned a student-organised memorial for victims of violence. In that case, Eštok chose not to intervene, suggesting to Pataj that the minister’s responses may be politically selective, depending on the public and political interests at stake.
Surveillance Proposals and Questions of Competence
Pataj goes on to criticise Eštok’s proposal to install AI-powered surveillance cameras in schools, a plan that would involve facial recognition and behavioural monitoring. Pataj describes this initiative as invasive and likely to face significant legal and parental opposition due to privacy concerns. He suggests that this proposal, along with Eštok’s handling of the recent school controversy, reflects an alarming level of incompetence and lack of regard for students’ welfare.
Given these actions, Pataj speculates that Hlas leadership may seek to reassign Eštok from the Ministry of Interior to a parliamentary role, where he would arguably have a less direct impact on public safety.
Source: Roman Pataj | Denník N
