KDH: Proposed Changes at RTVS Would Turn It into Politicised State Medium

Bratislava, March 12 (TASR) - The Culture Ministry wants to deliberately replace RTVS with a new institution in which it will install "its people", commented the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) on a legislative intention concerning changes in public-service broadcaster Radio and Television Slovakia (RTVS). MP for KDH and parliamentary culture and media committee member Jozef Hajko claimed that the submitted bill would have a fatal impact on the independence of public-service media. Via the new law, they'll fall into the hands of the ruling power and become de facto state media," he explained. Hajko views the new way of creating the public-service medium's bodies as the obvious politicisation of RTVS. "Considering the style of the changes and the manner in which RTVS bodies will be created, we can view its programme council as a political-censorship body of ruling power," stated Hajko. The Culture Ministry submitted a bill on Radio and Television Slovakia for inter-departmental review on Monday (March 11). The current institution shouldn't be formally divided, but several changes in the way it operates are proposed. In line with new rules, the general director should be elected by a seven-member council composed of three nominees of the culture minister and four elected in parliament. There should also be a programme council, the majority of whose members would be elected by parliament. ko/df