On Thursday, many employees of public radio and television in Slovakia came to work wearing black. Journalists from other media outlets joined in solidarity. “We stand by RTVS,” is the slogan of the supporters. The station only said “Black day for RTVS”. On Wednesday, the Slovakian government decided what had long been announced: the broadcasting company should be dissolved and re-established. New name: STVR. “Radio and television of Slovakia” becomes “Slovak television and radio”. This name, the bill explains, is intended to be more patriotic. The national anthem will also be played every night.
Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová, who was elected to parliament on the list of the right-wing nationalist party SNS in September, accused RTVS of spreading disinformation. As an example, she cited the “shameful” reporting about herself. Šimkovičová used to work as a journalist herself, then founded her own YouTube channel TV Slovan about ten years ago, where she spread hate speech against refugees and homosexuals, denied the corona pandemic and gave space to pro-Russian narratives. She continues to act as a minister. Last Sunday’s broadcast criticized government financial support for LGBT events.
Sender sees violation of applicable law
There is great concern in the broadcaster. When the law comes into force in June or July, the director of RTVS, who was appointed until 2027, will automatically lose his position. It is not yet known who will succeed him. In addition, a so-called ethics committee with nine members should be convened instead of the supervisory board.
In a statement on Wednesday, RTVS said the new law was unjustified and contradicted existing law. The government could also reform the existing broadcaster instead of abolishing it entirely. The management of RTVS has asked the government several times for a “constructive dialogue”. But they have “decided on a targeted change that is guided by the effort to control the public media,” it says on the broadcaster’s homepage.
Attacks on print and online media
Prime Minister Robert Fico declared that the “situation at RTVS is unbearable” and that the broadcasters cannot report objectively because they are in a fight with the government. Culture Minister Šimkovičová said in the press conference on Wednesday: “You know, the political activism that has taken root in the opinion-forming media needs to be trimmed to the right level so that it is truly balanced.”
The government is not only attacking the public broadcasters. Several print and online media outlets, including the portal for which the journalist Ján Kuciak, who was murdered in 2018, reported, are ignored by the Fico government when asked or insulted across the board. Shortly after the presidential election at the beginning of April, the government decided not to provide any more information to the private television station TV Markíza.
Pellegrini has already signaled his approval
The government coalition, which consists of three factions, is taking its time before it wants to submit the draft law it has agreed on to parliament. The vote is not due to take place until June. The handover of office from President Zuzana Čaputová to her successor Peter Pellegrini is scheduled for June 15th. Čaputová would certainly veto this bill. Pellegrini said during the presidential election campaign that, in his view, the law was fine. At most we can still talk about details.
The government has probably already sorted out these details. As feared, there will not be a program advisory board that could censor the programs; and a director cannot be removed without giving reasons, which would have conflicted with EU law.
The media law is only part of the measures agreed upon by the new government. In the future, non-governmental organizations or non-profit associations that receive more than 5,000 euros annually from foreign donors should identify themselves as “organizations with foreign support”. There are also changes for state museums and galleries. Their bosses no longer have to be selected in public tender processes.
The Minister of Culture had already cut budget funds for RTVS in the fall. According to the new law, the new broadcaster should be financed by up to ten times more advertising than before.