The Public Media Alliance has called on the President of Slovakia to reject a controversial law it says will put the country’s public broadcaster at risk of political interference and censorship.
PMA and other civil society organisations, media freedom groups, and media associations have long warned that the changes will make RTVS vulnerable to political interference and could result in it becoming a government mouthpiece.
Under the law, which received its final reading on Thursday 20 June, Radio and Television of Slovakia (Rozhlas a televízia Slovenska) would be renamed, its current Director General and board replaced, and a new Ethics Committee established.
“It is a black day for the independent public space in Slovakia. It is a dark day for the media space in Slovakia. And it is a black day for civil society in Slovakia,” said RTVS CEO ?uboš Machaj.
The EBU called the decision “a blow to democracy and independent media in Slovakia”.
If Peter Pellegrini gives the law his presidential approval, the law will come into effect on 1 July.
