In a move that has ignited extensive debate, Slovakia’s parliament has approved a law to restructure the public broadcaster Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS). The legislation, which was passed on Thursday, has led to significant concerns about the future independence of public media in the country. As a sign of protest, opposition MPs boycotted the vote and exited the chamber. For more details, see JURIST’s full article.
The law proposes replacing RTVS with a new entity named Slovak Television and Radio (STVR). This restructuring will be overseen by a nine-member board, with appointments split between the Slovak National Council and the Ministry of Culture. The director-general of the new organization will be elected by this board, granting it considerable power over the election and dismissal processes. The changes will take effect following Slovak President Peter Pelligrini’s approval.
Initially, Prime Minister Robert Fico and Minister of Culture Martina Šimkovičová announced the plan to dissolve RTVS, citing concerns over its alleged impartiality. Despite subsequent amendments that aim to ease opposition, the bill has faced harsh criticism from media freedom organizations and political figures, including former Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová and Vice-President of the European Commission Věra Jourová.
The new law also introduces an ethical commission to oversee journalistic standards at STVR. However, many argue it falls short of ensuring media independence as stipulated by the European Media Freedom Act (EFMA). The EFMA, implemented by the European Commission in 2022, seeks to maintain independent public service media and transparent media operations across the EU. Complaint voices, including the International Press Institute, had urged Slovak parliament to reject the legislation, citing potential government overreach.