PS Criticises Law on Slovak Television and Radio, Views Changes as Purpose-made

Bratislava, April 24 (TASR) - Opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) disagrees with the law on Slovak Television and Radio (STVR) approved by the government on Wednesday. PS wants to put maximum pressure to prevent the law from being passed by Parliament. In case it is passed, the party didn't rule out turning to the Constitutional Court. It views the change as purpose-made with the aim of taking control of the public-service medium. According to PS leader Michal Simecka, the government's intention is to create a state television with newscasts that wouldn't be of the public-service nature. PS is also ready to go the way of protest rallies, however, it depends on the agreement within the opposition. Simecka expressed his support to Radio and Television Slovakia (RTVS) staff. PS opines that the Slovak Constitution might be violated, for example, in case of the RTVS director post, as the tenure of current RTVS general director Lubos Machaj should end on the day when the new law takes effect. This might be a violation of the constitutional right for access to public posts. Parliamentary culture and media committee vice-chair Zora Jaurova (PS) sees no reason to scrap the existing institution and found a new one. According to her, all the proposed changes in the broadcaster's functioning could be achieved via an amendment to the law on RTVS. She added that the government's bill is in sharp conflict with the EU regulation on freedom of the media. The government is also changing the share of advertising that RTVS can broadcast. "It is again something that should have been discussed with the media market and that should have been adopted in a completely different way," said Jaurova. In line with the government's bill, public-service broadcaster Radio and Television of Slovakia should be renamed Slovak Television and Radio (STVR). The director will be elected by a nine-member council including four nominees from the Culture Ministry. ko/mcs