Bratislava sees 1000’s protest overhaul of nationwide broadcaster.
Hundreds gathered in central Bratislava over the weekend to protest the overhaul of the nation’s public broadcaster RTVS. Protesters concern that the reform will put the channel beneath governmental management.
The reform plan is to rename RTVS into STaR (“Slovak Tv and Radio”) and to dismiss most of its high administration, together with the top of the channel. A brand new boss is to be appointed by a council, elected partially by the Ministry of Tradition and partially by the parliament, the place the ruling coalition has the bulk.
600 employees of RTVS signed a declaration towards the reform.
In accordance with protesters, this can be a direct violation of EU regulation, specifically the European Media Freedom Act of 2022, which calls for the clear and neutral appointment of public broadcasters’ administration and clearly prohibits to fireside already appointed functioneers earlier than the tip of their time period.
Michal Šimečka, chief of Progressive Slovakia (one of many events who initiated the protests) claimed that that is precisely the way in which “all autocrats observe” and if Slovakia goes down this route, it’ll find yourself like Hungary, and even Belarus.
The contents inside the article have been provided by way of Newswire for Finencial.com, go to