SaS Objects to Ban on Public Attending Hearings of Head of STVR Candidates

Bratislava, May 12 (TASR) - The opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party objects to the process used to elect the head of public-broadcaster STVR, speaking about a lack of transparency, according to statements made by its members at a news conference held in front of the Slovak Radio building on Monday. Among other things, the party criticised the fact neither the public nor the media were able to attend the hearings of the candidates. It wants to seek ways to challenge the legality of this. "I wasn't allowed to attend the public meeting of the STVR Council, or the public hearings of candidates for the STVR general director post. It was impossible for the public, the media or representatives of the STVR staff to enter. Only a very limited number of MPs were allowed to attend these hearings," said SaS member Rene Parak. MP Tomas Szalay (SaS) noted that legislators were allowed into the room, but they were not allowed to ask the candidates anything. "Legislators should have the right to ask something in an important election like this," he said. MP Ondrej Dostal (SaS) doesn't view broadcasting the hearings online as fulfilling the request for public hearings. SaS said that it had previously criticised the STVR Council for not allowing the public to attend its meetings and had turned to the Prosecutor General's (PG) Office in this connection. However, the PG's Office said that the public character of candidate hearings doesn't fall within the scope of its supervisory jurisdiction. Therefore, the party will consider what other steps it can take regarding the issue. The STVR Council should decide on the new STVR chief at its session on Monday. The hearings of the candidates have already started, with five candidates running for the post. The session can be watched via online streaming. ko/df