Justice Minister Andreja Katič of the SD said that although there was no universal definition of hate speech, hate speech was mentioned in several legally non-binding international documents.

And although experts and laymen have started debating the need to change the penal code to address hate speech, Katič said this would be an extreme solution.

"We'll probably not eliminate hate speech with fire and sword, but by raising the level of dialogue," she said, stressing hate speech called for decisive reaction.

Similarly, MEP Tanja Fajon (SD/S&D) said an unambiguous social reaction to hate speech was needed, including by politicians and other public figures.

"The freedom of speech is a fundamental right, but every fundamental right also implies duties," she said, adding hate speech in Slovenia had severely escalated.

Education Minister Jernej Pikalo, who also comes from the SD, said the issue of hate speech was important "because what one says, helps create the public space".

Noting hate speech is limited with the supreme moral postulates, which are in Slovenia set down in the constitution, Pikalo is aware it is politically unpopular to limit the freedom of speech in any way.

Although agreeing that words shape the public space, former Education and Culture Minister Žiga Turk stressed "words don't kill". "What does not kill you, makes you stronger."

Convinced that Slovenian legislation should not be changed, Turk believes there is never too much freedom of speech and there is certainly no need for a kind of an internet police as suggested by the SD's youth wing.