Parliament: Media Council May Become National Media Authority

Bratislava, 12 February (TASR) - The current Council for Media Services could be transformed into the National Media Authority, while retaining its status as a regulator, it follows from an amendment to the Media Services Act, which Parliament advanced to second reading on Thursday. The proposal was submitted by MPs for the Slovak National Party (SNS). The head of the authority would be elected by Parliament for a six-year term. In addition to the chair, the bodies of the authority would include a vice-chair and a council. According to SNS, the amendment adjusts the internal structure and decision-making processes of the state supervisory authority in the field of media services in order to "clarify responsibility for the exercise of powers, strengthen operational capacity and the stability of decision-making practice, and at the same time ensure a higher degree of transparency towards the public". Parliament would elect the head of the National Media Authority following a public hearing of candidates before a parliamentary committee. Candidates could be nominated by professional institutions and civic associations active in the fields of media, culture, science, education or sport, registered churches and religious societies, as well as civic associations of persons with disabilities through the advisory body of the government for issues concerning citizens with disabilities. The authority's council would serve as the second-instance body of the regulator, deciding on appeals against first-instance decisions. The council would have 11 members elected and dismissed by Parliament following a public hearing of candidates. The council would elect the council chair and the vice-chair from among its members. A council member would be elected for six years. Under the new rules, the regulator would be required to review the content of a motion to investigate within 30 days instead of the current 90 days. This concerns the preliminary phase assessing whether the conditions for initiating proceedings are met. SNS proposes that the amendment to come into effect on 1 April 2026. mf