Danko Finds It Important to Establish National Media Office

Bratislava, 20 March (TASR) - Junior coalition Slovak National Party (SNS) leader and House Vice-chair Andrej Danko has said that he views it as important to set up a National Media Authority. Danko said this in Parliament on Friday when asked by journalists about an amendment drafted by SNS that is aimed at transforming the Media Services Council into a National Media Office. He also confirmed that SNS representatives are communicating with MPs for its coalition partner, Voice-SD, who have objections to the draft amendment. "We lack an authority at the state level that would not be subject to lobbying pressures," said Danko when defending the need to establish the new office. He believes that the new office would also help to provide protection for the journalist community. An amendment to the Media Services Act is currently at its second reading in Parliament after MPs moved it there in February. They should therefore make a final decision on it at the April House session. The amendment is aimed at transforming the Media Services Council into a National Media Office. The status of this body as a so-called regulator should be preserved. In line with the draft amendment, the chairman of the office would be elected by Parliament for a six-year term. In addition to the chairman, the bodies of the office should be made up of the vice-chairman and the council. SNS explained that the amendment governs the internal organisation and decision-making processes of the state supervisory body for media services. According to the party, the aim is to "set unambiguous responsibility for the performance of its powers, to strengthen the ability to act and the stability of decision-making practice, and at the same time to ensure a higher level of transparency towards the public". The draft amendment has been rejected by opposition MPs, while Voice-SD also has reservations about its current wording. MP Lubica Lassakova (Voice-SD) has told TASR that SNS has spoken about an amending proposal, but Voice hasn't received any so far. "So, we have a problem backing the bill in its current form," she said. ko/df