Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico labelled local journalists “anti-Slovak prostitutes” on November 23 as he waded into a case featuring low level corruption allegations only to thrust it into the international headlines.

The Slovak government earlier this week rejected accusations that some of its preparations for running the EU's rotating presidency were marred by corruption. A former employee at the foreign ministry teamed up with Transparency International to claim that the budget for events to mark the start of the six-month stint in July grew alarmingly, and was pulled from public procurement oversight.

The claims have infuriated the prime minister, who at a press conference called them “a targeted attack against the successful Slovak Presidency of the Council of the EU and against Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak”, reports TASR.

He then turned his ire on the journalists attending the event. “I have nothing against you gunning for us,” he told them. “However, you do not inform the public, but fight this government. Some of you are dirty anti-Slovak prostitutes and I stand behind this expression.”

Lajcak called the case the “most absurd situation” of his life. “If someone proves that I have violated the law or principles of ethics and morality stemming from my post, then, of course, I’m not glued to my seat – I'll leave,” he said, calling upon the public not to make judgements without evidence.